Rep. Eric Swalwell Blew His Top When Marjorie Taylor Greene's Aide Told Him To Remove Mask
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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) blew up at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s spokesperson Friday after the aide told him to remove his mask seconds after he stepped off the House floor, where masks are required.
Swalwell said later he regretted he hadn’t been even “more explicit” than he was when confronted by the underling mask “bully.”
Swalwell said on MSNBC: “I’ve just frankly had enough with these marauding goons in the Marjorie Taylor Greene crowd.” The best way to deal with “terrorizing” from Greene’s office is to “tell the bullies to back off,” he added, noting he utilized a “few choice words.” (Check out the video above.)
Greene’s spokesperson Nick Dyer told a reporter for The Hill that Swalwell told him: “You don’t tell me what to fucking do.”
Swalwell said in a tweet that “no one should be bullied for wearing a mask. So I told the bully what I thought of his order. Predictably, he went speechless. I regret I wasn’t more explicit.”
I had a mask on as I stepped off the Floor. An aide with @mtgreenee yelled at me to take my mask off. No one should be bullied for wearing a mask. So I told the bully what I thought of his order. Predictably, he went speechless. I regret I wasn’t more explicit. https://t.co/o8j0DXWOBm
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) May 14, 2021
The gloves appear to be off at the U.S. Capitol after Greene’s unhinged, ranting pursuit of colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) down a corridor on Wednesday as the Georgian accused the New York City lawmaker of supporting “terrorists.” Ocasio-Cortez said Friday that Greene is seriously “unwell” and “needs some help” from a “proper professional.”
Dyer hit a nerve with Swalwell after the aide brazenly breached Comportment 101 at the House: Staffers should be respectful of elected officials.
The mask issue was clearly also a flashpoint.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the fully vaccinated can go maskless even indoors in many situations, though the unvaccinated should continue to take precautions against contracting the coronavirus. Because the House is riddled with anti-vaxxers (like Greene and her staff), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is still requiring masks on the floor. The unmasked and unvaccinated are also at risk from those fully vaccinated, who could still be carrying — and transmitting — asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.
Critics on Twitter mocked Dyer, Greene and some other Republicans for making a big deal out of personal freedom not to wear a mask but insisting that no one should have the freedom to wear a mask, which is safer for everyone.
But I thought anti-maskers were all about personal freedom & the "my body, my choice"?
Why would it ever even OCCUR to one of them to comment on another person's mask choice?— 🌲Jay E Crawford🌲 (@JayECrawford) May 14, 2021
The one thing that stands out to me is the blatant disrespect of a junior Congressman's staffer to a senior Congressman. I admire Rep. Swalwell's restraint.
— ToutdeSuiteLaSinner (@ToutSuiteSinner) May 14, 2021
House of Representatives keeps indoor mask wearing policy because of number of unvaccinated Reps. That is the context.
— Tom (@TomBalawejder) May 14, 2021
Note: Nancy Pelosi has not lifted the mask mandate on the House floor.
— Rocky Mountain Views 💉💉 (@RockyMountViews) May 14, 2021
You know what. If staff are harassing fellow legislators then ban them from the floor. It is bad enough for reps to put up with some of their other reps s**t. They should not have to be disrespected by their staff.
— Cimarron Kid (@cimarron_kid) May 14, 2021
Enough with the mask nonsense. It's so amazing that the trumpublicans are so enraged by masks- it's almost as if they have issues with emotional management and logical thinking.
We're supposed to be fine with them carrying guns- but they are freaked out by a mask- how odd?— Seeking 💛 Justice (@combienDUtemps) May 14, 2021
I spent a dozen years as a Hill staffer. There's a big difference between members of Congress and congressional staff. Even the most senior staffers are supposed to treat the most junior members with respect. It's just how things are done.
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) May 14, 2021
People will decide to continue wearing masks for various reasons.
Often they have a family member( immune compromised or a child) they are trying to protect that might not be able to be vaccinated.
Why is it anyone elses business if they do?— christina m. brooks (@runewarrior) May 14, 2021
I plan to wear a mask around Republicans forever, if I can’t avoid them entirely.
— Steve Weiss (@weiss_steve) May 14, 2021
Also on HuffPost
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.