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Lafayette Lawmaker Apologizes For Fist Fight With Fellow Legislator

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

Copyright 2018 WRKF

Drew White and Paul Braun