Rep. Eric Swalwell is retaliating after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) withdrew him from the House Intelligence Committee last week on the grounds that a past contact he had with an alleged Chinese agent barred him from participating on the panel.
The California Democrat was challenged by anchor Dana Bash during a segment of CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, “Did you put yourself in a vulnerable position in any way, so that this alleged Chinese spy could have benefited or even learned American secrets?”
The congressman responded:
But, Dana, don’t take my word for it. Take the FBI’s word for it. They never talk about ongoing investigations. And former Chairman Schiff knows this, as a member of the Gang of Eight. Three different times, they came out and said two things. All I did was help them and, also, I was never under any suspicion of wrongdoing.
Swalwell added:
But, more than that, Chairman — Speaker Boehner was briefed on this investigation. He could have removed me, just as Speaker McCarthy did. He didn’t. Devin Nunes was the chair of the Intelligence Committee, never made a public peep about this. Paul Ryan would have access to the same investigation, reappointed me to the committee. Donald Trump, who villainized me at every rally, more access to classified information than any person who walked the earth, if he could have weaponized that to go after me, you know he would have. There’s nothing there.
The Democrat representative then attacked Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, saying the accusations were merely a political stunt:
I did what every American should have. This is some Bakersfield B.S. It’s Kevin McCarthy weaponizing his ability to commit this political abuse, because he perceives me, just like Mr. Schiff and Ms. Omar, as an effective political opponent.
Watch:
During an insightful interview on the same program on Sunday, Bash called out Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for prior defamatory remarks he made about the previous President Donald Trump and Russia.
Bash placed Schiff on the defensive as he rebutted remarks he had previously made on the record. Schiff was removed from the House Select Committee on Intelligence by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) after years of Republican accusations that he had utilized material for political gain.
Schiff refuted the assertion made in Mueller’s report and argued that Trump’s 2016 campaign manager exchanged internal polling data with a Russian agent.
Eric Swalwell, Ilhan Omar and Adam Schiff have been under fire since Rep. Kevin McCarthy made a blunt statement about their remotion from house committees.
Independent Writer. Marketing and communications strategist for politicians, artists, public figures & corporate brands for more than 10 years. Contact: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)
Escritor independiente. Consultor en marketing y comunicaciones de políticos, artistas, figuras públicas y marcas por más de 10 años. Contacto: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)