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Missouri Lawmaker Says Colleague "Took A Swing" at Him, Ended in a Fistfight

Missouri House of Representatives

Credit Missouri House of Representatives
/
Missouri House of Representatives
Michael Butler

A Missouri lawmaker says a colleague upset over a right-to-work bill took a swing at him in an alley outside a Jefferson City restaurant and the two ended up in a fistfight.

Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis released a copy of the restraining order Tuesday that he filed against Rep. Michael Butler. Curtis also asked the House speaker to open an ethics investigation against Butler.

Both are Democratic lawmakers from the St. Louis area.

Curtis alleges Butler verbally confronted him during an AFL-CIO reception at a Jefferson City restaurant Jan. 19 because Curtis had supported a right-to-work bill limiting union powers. He says Butler later took a swing at him in an alley as he was leaving, and Curtis says he fought back.

Butler declined to comment about the incident.

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