Top Democrat Called Out for Relationship With Chinese Spy

The 2024 Homeland Security budget was discussed in a House of Representatives meeting on April 18. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) interrupted the meeting to call out Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) for his suspected relationship with a Chinese spy before taking the podium to speak about the fentanyl epidemic about halfway through.

Swalwell had just completed pleading with his colleagues to take into account the budget’s anti-Semitism and anti-police rhetoric issues, but his message was laced with several digs at the GOP.

He singled out Donald Trump by retweeting a statement the former president made in which he urged Republicans to “defund the Department of Justice and FBI until they have come to their senses.” 

The California representative then targeted other MAGA Republicans for using similar anti-police sentiments, like Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Greene shot back, calling Swalwell’s speech “quite entertaining from someone that had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy” and grinning, “And everyone knows it,” she then attacked Swalwell. 

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) made a motion to have Greene’s remarks removed by the committee. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), asked her if she wanted to take back her statement, but she refused. The chair deliberated about whether or not to strike her statements, but ultimately decided against it.

Rep. Bennie Thompson swiftly responded with a statement denouncing Greene’s behavior, which effectively ended the meeting. He asked for an appeal, which prompted Goldman to intervene once more and demand the chair defend his choice, saying, “I’m appalled, we all ought to be embarrassed.” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the vice chair, was immediately contacted when Green objected and “moved to table the motion.”

The committee’s time was spent by Greene’s remark for more than eight minutes. After the clock was stopped, Green let the Georgia representative “an extra 10 or 15 seconds” to speak.