Politics

Eric Swalwell Shrugs Off Threats Against Susan Collins 11 Days After His GOP Opponent Faced Stabbing Attempt

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Font Size:

“Boo hoo hoo.”

That was California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s reaction to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins saying she had received threats meant to influence her vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“My office has received some pretty ugly voicemails, threats, terrible things said to my staff,” Collins said in an interview with Maine radio station WVOM.

“Boo hoo hoo. You’re a senator who police will protect,” Swalwell wrote in a tweet early Thursday morning. (RELATED: GOP Baseball Shooter Was ‘Fueled By Rage Against Republican Legislators)

“A sexual assault victim can’t sleep in her home tonight because of threats. Where are you sleeping? She’s on her own while you and your @SenateGOP colleagues try to rush her through a hearing.”

Screenshot/Twitter

Screenshot/Twitter

Swalwell was reacting to an article in The Hill, which did not note that Collins said the woman accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford, should receive protection for her and her family.

“I think we need to provide her with any protection that she may ask for, for herself and for her family,” Collins said.

Swalwell’s dismissal of the threats against Collins came just 11 days after Swalwell’s Republican challenger, Rudy Peters, narrowly escaped a stabbing attempt.

Peters’s accused attacker, Farzad Fazeli, reportedly made disparaging remarks against the Republican Party before the alleged attack.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who narrowly survived a politically motivated mass assassination attempt in June 2017, warned in an interview earlier in September that “some on the left” are “inciting” violence against Republicans.

Swalwell deleted his tweet mocking Collins after facing online backlash.

“Sexual assault victims deserve respect. And senators shouldn’t be threatened by the public. I said something stupid and minimized ugly behavior,” Swalwell wrote. “That tweet is deleted and I’m sorry for that.”

This article was updated to include Swalwell’s apology.

Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.