California Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell has made plenty of mistepps and tactical blunders during his time representing Californians.
But his biggest mistake may have been letting his Republican colleagues know what gets under his skin.
Because Eric Swalwell just had a meltdown after he was called out in a Congressional hearing.
For the second time in a month, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was dunked on by his colleagues from the other side of the congressional aisle.
This time the verbal tiff involved Texas Republican Rep. Troy Nehls.
The two congressmen were participating in a hearing about the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.
Nehls: Swalwell’s angry and he has a “checkered past”
Things got a little contentious when Swalwell interrupted a woman who speaking at the hearing.
At this point, Nehls got in his dig, saying, “Ms. Rodriguez, I apologize that you had to — you’re here for a hearing on the border, they don’t want to talk about a border. Mr. Swalwell is down there, obviously everybody knows he’s made some comments, he’s got a checkered past.”
Swalwell interrupted, saying, “I’m sorry — I have a checkered past?”
Nehls responded, “It’s my time. Alleged affairs, relationships with Yum Yum.”
Swalwell, obviously incensed, said, “You don’t get to say that shit. That’s not true!”
Nehls went on to say, “He had an alleged relationship with Yum Yum, now he’s angry.”
Nehls misremembered the name, but is referring to a suspected Chinese spy known as Fang Fang, who allegedly cultivated connections with Swalwell and other California politicians from 2011 to 2015 at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security.
Rep. Troy Nehls calls out Eric Swalwell for having an affair with “Yum Yum” 😂
Her name was actually Fang Fang 😂 pic.twitter.com/UZwtZAU0f2
— DOUG IS MY GOV (@DougIsMyGov) April 26, 2023
Perhaps part of the reason that Swalwell is so defensive is that the woman Nehls mistakenly referred to as “Yum Yum” actually is alleged to have gotten to Swalwell – and good.
Fang is alleged to have bundled campaign contributions for Swalwell and used her connections to place an intern in his Congressional office.
For Swalwell, Fang Fang just won’t fade away
Axios reported that Fang was allegedly working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security and allegedly also developed sexual relationships with two mayors from midwestern U.S. Cities.
While Swalwell denied wrongdoing in his relationship with Fang, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cited the ordeal as his reason to remove the congressman from the House Intelligence Committee once Republicans gained control of the chamber in January.
Fang Fang has featured prominently in Congressional hearings this month.
In recent weeks, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) brought up Swalwell’s former ties to the suspected Chinese spy when he attempted to lecture her on what he considered to be appropriate behavior.
Stay tuned to Blue State Blues for any updates to this ongoing story.
