AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Republican Gov. Paul LePage has called a fellow Republican “the most repugnant human” and stormed away from lawmakers who are investigating whether his administration retaliated against mill owners.

The governor on Monday defended his administration before the Legislature’s government oversight committee. A report by the Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability released Monday found no evidence that the governor or a tariff dispute played any role in a decision to divert shipments of spruce and fir that previously went to the mill owners’ mills.

The committee ruled LePage out of order after he called Republican committee member Sen. Thomas Saviello “the most repugnant human.” Saviello and the governor have long been at odds.

The committee’s co-chair Republican Sen. Roger Katz said the governor owes lawmakers and Saviello an apology.