Swalwell blasts McCarthy criticism, slams his ‘support for QAnon’

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) blasted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) early Thursday over the GOP leader’s reported plans to introduce a resolution requesting his removal from the Intelligence Committee over the Democrat’s former relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.

Swalwell responded to Fox News’s report on the resolution, which is expected to be announced later Thursday, slamming McCarthy for attempting to pivot from his “support for QAnon.”

“Meet the New McCarthyism,” Swalwell tweeted. “Multiple sentences in resolution state ‘Swalwell has not denied…’ Yet fails to include multiple FBI statements of ‘no wrongdoing’ and did nothing but ‘cooperate.’”

“All of this to deflect from @GOPLeader’s support for QAnon,” he continued. 

Meet the New McCarthyism. Multiple sentences in resolution state “Swalwell has not denied…” Yet fails to include multiple FBI statements of “no wrongdoing” and did nothing but “cooperate.” All of this to deflect from @GOPLeader’s support for QAnon. https://t.co/2bsU72ev8H

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) March 18, 2021

McCarthy has called on Democrats to remove Swalwell from the panel over his former ties to Christine Fang, whom federal authorities have investigated as a potential Chinese spy.

Fang had helped fundraise for Swalwell in his 2014 campaign and arrange for an intern to work in his office before fleeing the U.S. in 2015, Axios previously reported.  

Authorities have not charged Swalwell with any wrongdoing, and he has said he no longer has contact with her. 

In response to a request for further comment, McCarthy’s office pointed to remarks he made on the House floor Thursday, in which he said he had “grave concerns” about the Intelligence Committee’s membership after a classified FBI briefing he received with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that involved “deeply disturbing” information.

“Yet so far the allegations, which have not been denied, have gone unaddressed,” he said. “As the House considers this question, I hope all members will reflect on the purpose and responsibilities of this select panel.”

He pointed out that committee members are privy to information that other lawmakers don’t see, adding “no member should be compromised in any way.” 

“I want all members to ask this one question: Should a member who can’t get a security clearance in the private sector sit on the House Intelligence Committee?” he asked.

McCarthy had told Punchbowl News, which first reported that the resolution would be introduced on Thursday, that “if an individual could not get a clearance in the private sector, they shouldn’t be on Intel.”

“I don’t think it’s that difficult,” he added.

Democrats including Pelosi have condemned McCarthy in recent months after he did not take action against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over her past promotion of QAnon conspiracy theories. 

Pelosi’s comments calling the minority leader “McCarthy (Q-CA)” came days before the House voted to remove Greene from her committee assignments due to her endorsement of conspiracy theories and violence against Democrats. 

—Updated at 2:13 p.m.