Republican Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett disputed Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s account of her altercation with a conservative activist during a brief interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation Wednesday.
Activist Laura Loomer alleged Crockett “physically attacked and assaulted” a member of her team Tuesday while the Texas Democrat refused to answer a question about condemning the recent spate of violent attacks on Tesla dealerships. Crockett has since painted herself as the victim of the interaction, claiming the cameraman sought to “invade [her] safety for a soundbite.” Burchett, who was walking with Crockett during the exchange, disputed his Democratic colleague’s account and criticized her decision to grab the cameraman’s phone as the activist pressed her to condemn the Tesla attacks.
Burchett told the DCNF the incident was “very unfortunate” and said unequivocally that Crockett should not have put her hands on the activist.
“It was a bad situation. She should not have grabbed that guy’s phone whatsoever,” Burchett told the DCNF. “Everybody’s in everybody’s face over here, but that’s part of the game. You gotta live with it, you gotta be adults.”
“That’s why there’s courtrooms,” Burchett added as he walked up the Capitol steps.
Crockett claimed in a post on X that Burchett put himself in between herself and the activist to ensure she made it to the committee room safely.
“In a time of division, he put respect and safety first and I appreciate it,” Crockett wrote on X.
This morning an individual attempted to my invade personal safety for a soundbite. Thank you to my Colleague @RepTimBurchett for putting himself between me and the individual to ensure I made it to Committee. In a time of division, he put respect and safety first and I appreciate…
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) March 25, 2025
Burchett appeared to dispute Crockett’s characterization of his role during the incident, telling the DCNF he “stepped back” when the confrontation occurred.
The conservative activist alleged that Crockett’s nails left visible scratches on his hand after she grabbed his phone during the confrontation. He posted on X that he filed a police report against Crockett with the Capitol Police following the incident.
The left-wing firebrand also recently courted controversy by referring to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels” during a speech at an LGBTQ advocacy group event in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Crockett was seen walking through the hallways with a police escort Wednesday. She did not respond to the DCNF’s question Wednesday about whether she regretted mocking Abbott or using a wheelchair.
Seems like Jasmine Crockett now has a police escort
pic.twitter.com/azg5D65h1o
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 26, 2025
Republican Texas Rep. Randy Weber introduced a resolution to formally censure Crockett over her comments toward Abbott Wednesday morning. The resolution is not privileged and it is unclear whether House GOP leadership will bring the resolution to a vote on the floor.
President Donald Trump called Crockett a “lowlife” and a “very low-IQ person” during an interview with Daily Caller editorial director Vince Coglianese Wednesday.
The U.S. Capitol Police and a Crockett spokesperson did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
Myles Morell contributed to reporting.
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