After a day of violence in Washington DC and Northern Virginia, the certification of the 2020 presidential election results almost led to a fistfight between House members at 3 AM.

The Senate skipped the allotted debating time for the objection of Pennsylvania’s vote certification and overturned it. The House also overturned the objection, but the debate nearly led to a fistfight on the floor. 

Pennsylvania Representative Conor Lamb said, “We know that that attack today, it didn’t materialize out of nowhere, it was inspired by lies — the same lies that you’re hearing in this room tonight. The members who are repeating those lies should be ashamed of themselves. Their constituents should be ashamed of them.” 

Virginia’s Republican Representative Morgan attempted to have this quote struck from the record. Morgan represents Virginia’s 9th district, which covers parts of Southwestern Virginia like Montgomery and Floyd County. He said, “The gentleman said that there were lies on this floor here today, looking over in this direction. I ask that those words be taken down. We may have a disagreement on matters…Not liars!”

House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi turned down Morgan’s request, as it was “not timely.” Morgan continued to object. Lamb replied, “It’s sad but it’s true! The truth hurts.” Morgan continued to cry, “Take the words down!” Lamb continued, “It hurts. It hurts them. It hurts this country. It hurts all of us!” Morgan continued to yell and Lamb called back, “Go ahead, shout it out!”

As this occurred, an argument broke out between Maryland’s Republican Representative Andy Harris and Texas’ Democrat Representative Colin Allred. Harris represents Maryland’s 1st District, which covers the Eastern Shore and parts of other counties like Baltimore and Carroll.

Harris shouted, “He called me a liar!” The two yelled at each other to sit down and moved to face off with each other in the aisle. Allred is heard saying, “Are you serious, man? Haven’t you had enough violence for today?” Other representatives jumped forward to intervene and tried to get involved as the pair postured. Pelosi called for order and the voting commenced.

Harris now claims that nothing physical was going to happen and that Allred was attempting to intervene.