On Wednesday, California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell tweeted about an interaction he had at the United States Capitol with a father and son during a Capitol tour.
Swalwell tweeted:
"Today I gave a tour in the Capitol and was stopped by a father with his young boy. The father yelled at me 'Hey Swalwell' and then told his son, 'that’s Swalwell. He’s trouble. He doesn’t back Trump'."
"I kept walking and felt sad for the boy. He’s being raised in a cult family."
\u201cToday I gave a tour in the Capitol and was stopped by a father with his young boy. The father yelled at me \u201cHey Swalwell\u201d and then told his son, \u201cthat\u2019s Swalwell. He\u2019s trouble. He doesn\u2019t back Trump.\u201d I kept walking and felt sad for the boy. He\u2019s being raised in a cult family.\u201d— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1655932071
In response, Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted an oft repeated right-wing lie about Swalwell.
The GOP Congresswoman posted:
"No way that happened."
"Because we all know good Trump supporting fathers would say, 'that’s the Democrat who had sex with a Chinese spy'."
\u201cNo way that happened.\n\nBecause we all know good Trump supporting fathers would say, \u201cthat\u2019s the Democrat who had sex with a Chinese spy.\u201d\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1655940489
In 2014 a woman named Fang Fang—aka Christine Fang—reportedly participated in fundraising for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection campaign and recommended an intern for his office.
In 2015, federal investigators alerted Swalwell to their concerns Fang might be a Chinese intelligence operative. He immediately cut all ties with her.
Swalwell was never accused of any wrongdoing. Fang allegedly had sex with two mayors from the Midwest, but Swalwell was never suspected, implicated or accused of having sex with Fang.
Yet right-wing agitators—like Greene—use the lie as an insult against Swalwell whenever his name is in the news.
Swalwell responded to Greene's perpetuation of the lie with audio of a threatening message he received.
The caller mentioned the same lie Greene's tweet amplified.
Swalwell tweeted with the audio file:
"Marjorie loves to play the victim. But she’s an inciter of violence.
"Her constant attacks—even after the FBI said I was never suspected of wrongdoing—lead to threatening calls like this."
"This caller from today threatened to kill my three children."
WARNING: NSFW language
\u201cHave a LISTEN \ud83d\udd0a\n\nMarjorie loves to play the victim. But she\u2019s an inciter of violence. Her constant attacks \u2014 even after the FBI said I was never suspected of wrongdoing \u2014 lead to threatening calls like this. This caller from today threatened to kill my three children.\u201d— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1655946122
In the audio file, a man’s voice said:
“Hey, you little c*cksucker. You still banging the Chinese spy Fang Fang and stinkin' up the Capitol with your farts?"
"We’re coming to your house this weekend."
"Gonna get you and them little mutant b*stards, them little mutant offspring of yours."
"We’re gonna get ya.”
People were horrified at the level of hate directed at Swalwell because of people like Greene parroting lies.
\u201c@RpsAgainstTrump @RepSwalwell I can. It's why I'd never move to that part of the country. Too many people are either ignorant or idiots.\u201d— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1655946122
\u201c@mattr318 @RepSwalwell Doubt he could pick out Georgia on a map\u2026\u201d— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1655946122
\u201cEric Swalwell belongs in Congress.\n\nMarjorie Taylor Greene belongs in prison.\u201d— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1655989404
\u201cMarjorie Taylor Greene hit with audio of harassment after attempting to dunk on Eric Swalwell https://t.co/QRPU5Ha0mM\u201d— #TuckFrump (@#TuckFrump) 1656000752
\u201c@funder .\nWhat a difference . . .\n\nEric Swalwell Marjorie Taylor Greene\none patriot one traitor\n\n\ud83e\uddd0\u201d— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1655989404
\u201cIsn\u2019t there an Ethics Committee some where in the Capitol or is the Congress operating like the US Supreme Court & just do, behave & decide without any accountability. https://t.co/fkOKmgI1jP\u201d— jespanol (@jespanol) 1656007128
\u201cEven after what we heard Shaye Moss and Lady Ruby say, thugs like Marjorie Taylor Greene still incite violence. Today, Eric swalwell received death threats thanks to her.\u201d— Animal of politics (@Animal of politics) 1655952980
\u201cDespicable . Obviously threats by an uneducated ignorant ( language ) Trump clone . \n\n\u201cEric Swalwell Shares Recording Of Death Threat After Marjorie Taylor Greene Attack \u201c https://t.co/3r1OxLSIYf\u201d— Jen Burs (Jeanne ) (@Jen Burs (Jeanne )) 1656000640
\u201cAny other workplace Margie Taylor Green would be fired for her actions Why isn't she fired now censured something This lady is a out of control nut ball\nMarjorie Taylor Greene hit with audio of harassment after attempting to dunk on Eric Swalwell https://t.co/RdHf7nrG0c\u201d— Jon Westergren (@Jon Westergren) 1656006839
\u201cI\u2019d love to hear from MAGA supporters.\nDo you support death threats made to children? Is this who you are now? When is enough enough?\n\nhttps://t.co/DCmQENQFnU\u201d— Merrill \u262e\ufe0f (@Merrill \u262e\ufe0f) 1655987878
\u201cGreene, that's one of your followers, you stupid sad excuse for a human being! Representative Swalwell, I am so sorry for the way the fascists are attacking you and your family. Please don't let them get their way by leaving the government.\u201d— dividedwefall.kcm (@dividedwefall.kcm) 1656007561
Swalwell is not the first to accuse Greene of inciting violence through her use of inflammatory rhetoric, lies and conspiracy theories.
Representative Cori Bush was forced to move her congressional office away from Greene's citing she and her staff felt unsafe.
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