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Lafayette Lawmaker Apologizes For Fist Fight With Fellow Legislator

Sarah Gamard
/
LaPolitics
Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, apologized to his fellow legislators on the House floor for a physical altercation with Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma.

State Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, issued an apology to his fellow lawmakers Wednesday morning for engaging in a fist fight with another state legislator after a report from The News Star surfaced about the incident.

Bishop said that he and State Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, "had a disagreement and it got physical." The fight reportedly took place in a downtown Baton Rouge bar Tuesday night because the two had a dispute over legislation. Bishop took to the House floor on personal privilege to comment on the altercation.

"I truly apologize if I did anything to upset y'all or make y’all look bad because the integrity of this body is one thing that I cherish and one thing I hold very dear," Bishop said. "I feel like it was unbecoming of a gentleman and unbecoming for a member of this House," Bishop added.

According to The News Star, police were called but no arrests were made. Bishop referred to the incident as a "gentleman’s disagreement" and mentioned that a couple hundred years ago men used to settle disputes with dueling guns.

"I apologize, and I would like to say I would hope it wouldn't happen again," Bishop said in his closing comments. "The next time it'll just be dueling guns."

Report courtesy of LSU Manship School News Service