Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) was mocked after making a remark about House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for booting him from the House Intelligence Committee.
On Wednesday, while speaking to reporters, Swalwell said, “We will not be quiet. We’re not going away. I think he’ll regret giving all three of us more time on our hands.”
He added, “At the end of the day, our mission now is to restore the credibility and integrity of this institution of which the speaker has so gravely smashed and destroyed.”
Watch Swalwell’s remarks below:
Swalwell: "[McCarthy] will regret giving all three of us more time on our hands." pic.twitter.com/eDS02NWpHo
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 25, 2023
Twitter users quickly began to mock Swalwell, with one user writing, “Boo friggin hoo.”
Boo friggin hoo https://t.co/7sRtae2qjT
— Widow Fike📌 (@WidowFike) January 25, 2023
Radio host Jenna Ellis asked, “Because you have a date with more spies?”
Because you have a date with more spies, @RepSwalwell? https://t.co/UyXO0ryL6n
— Jenna Ellis (@realJennaEllis) January 25, 2023
Another user tweeted, “Cry more loser.”
https://twitter.com/jimmywax454/status/1618308394716389379
Read more tweets below:
Such a weird threat.
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 25, 2023
What’s he going to do? Tweet more? Fraternize with more foreign spies? https://t.co/q4NPdACwW1
I'm old enough to remember that Democrats consider this type of speech to be threatening and terroristic in nature.
— Some Welder 🇺🇸 (@SomeWelder) January 25, 2023
When will @RepSwalwell be held accountable and impeached for putting Kevin McCarthy's life and the lives of his family in mortal danger? https://t.co/tJ3nuyccWT
Don’t think so. The media will want to speak to people who can actually serve on committees https://t.co/HThoGRPXy4
— Sean O'Connor (@NewSeanO) January 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/EarnstScott/status/1618361721747542017
McCarthy defended his decision to keep Swalwell and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) from serving on the committee while speaking to reporters yesterday, as IJR reported.
Speaking about Swalwell, McCarthy said he “had the briefing and Nancy Pelosi had the briefing from the FBI. The FBI never came before this Congress to tell the leadership of this Congress that Eric Swalwell had a problem with the Chinese spy until he served on Intel.”
He added, “The FBI was concerned about putting a member of Congress on the Intel committee that has the rights to see things that others don’t, because of his knowledge and relationship with a Chinese spy.”
In December 2020, Axios reported that a Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang set her sights on up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area of California and across the country.
Among her targets was Swalwell, according to the report.
Axios reported that Fang helped at least one intern land in the senator’s office and interacted with him at several events over the course of years.
Federal investigators “became so alarmed” by Fang’s behavior and activities they eventually informed Swalwell of the situation, as the report explained.
The outlet noted Swalwell reportedly immediately cut ties to Fang, citing a U.S. intelligence official at the time.
Last week, he appeared on “The View” and defended his handling of the situation.
“First and foremost, and you don’t have to take my word for it, take the FBI’s word for it…when they told me who she …I did everything that I hoped everyone would do, which was to cooperate and help the FBI, and she was removed,” Swalwell said.