[Editor’s note: Please scroll down for updates. Rep. Crowley denies that a physical altercation took place and Cantor’s spokesman now says the encounter was blown out of proportion. We have amended the title accordingly.]
Can you feel the love?
Spox for @GOPLeader says @RepJoeCrowley "put his hands" on Cantor's floor dir. earlier while he was "delivering a message to the minority"
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Cantor's floor dir. was telling Dems that they were moving on from a bill, stopping dems from using tactics to bring up clean CR, per spox
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Spox for @GOPLeader says @Repjoecrowley "put his hands on our staffer in an inappropriate way"
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Ahem:
jim moran: your move RT @j_strong: Cantor spokesman says Rep Joe Crowley engaged in physical altercation w GOP staffer
— Nino (@baldingschemer) October 12, 2013
Dem Rep. Eric Swalwell has a different story:
@frankthorpNBC @GOPLeader @repjoecrowley Not true & the floor director shouted rudely that HE, the floor staffer, was pulling the bill.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) October 12, 2013
@frankthorpNBC lots of Members took umbrage to an unelected staffer declaring on the @housefloor that he pulled a bill. #notdemocracy
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) October 12, 2013
Update:
Rep. Cantor’s spokesman is now dialing back his description of the drama.
Cantor Spox, who told press about the situation between @repjoecrowley and Cantor's staffer, says it was "blown out of proportion"
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Crowley denies that a physical altercation took place.
Crowley says there was no touching between him and Cantor's floor director. This story appears to be COMPLETELY blown out of proportion
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Rep Crowley says incident with Cantor aide was "blown out of proportion." Says he had words with Cantor flr dir Vieson. Vieson apologized.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 12, 2013
Crowley tells reporters he did not lay hands on Vieson, Cantor floor director. Says he thought Vieson was being rude, and Vieson apologized
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 12, 2013
Cantor spokesman now says things have been patched up.
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
Staffer in altercation w Crowley was Chris Vieson, Cantor' floor director
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
Crowley says he didn't touch Vieson
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
Crowley says a Dem aide asked Vieson if he was "shutting down democracy" and Vieson said yes
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
Then Crowley told Vieson it was inappropriate and Vieson apologized
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
Altercation described to me as Crowley jabbing Vieson with his finger
— Jonathan Strong (@j_strong) October 12, 2013
After all that, a big ol’ nothingburger?
@RepSwalwell @novaculus @HouseFloor Crowley and Cantor's office both say there was no physical altercation
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 12, 2013
Did reporters get this one wrong or was it Cantor’s spokesman who blew the story out of proportion? Stay tuned.
Update:
According to Roll Call, there were “multiple reports that Crowley was using his index finger to make his point and that he was poking Vieson, which is a definite no-no on the House floor.”
Trending on @rollcall: Dem Lawmaker, GOP Aide Get in Shouting Match on House Floor http://t.co/pW52TFOaLX via @MEPFuller
— Roll Call (@rollcall) October 12, 2013
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