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:
Twitter users quickly began to mock Swalwell, with one user writing, “Boo friggin hoo.”
https://twitter.com/WidowFike/status/1618368786901635076
Radio host Jenna Ellis asked, “Because you have a date with more spies?”
Another user tweeted, “Cry more loser.”
https://twitter.com/jimmywax454/status/1618308394716389379
Read more tweets below:
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.