Rep. Eric Swalwell: ‘I Did What Every American Should Have. This Is Some Bakersfield B.S.’

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) (Photo by ANNA MONEYMAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said Sunday that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) perceives him “as an effective political opponent,” and the speaker weaponized “his ability to commit this political abuse” by removing Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee.

“You were also removed by Republicans from the Intelligence Committee. What the speaker said about you is that, beginning in 2012, a suspected Chinese spy developed ties to you and to your office, even put an intern there, raised campaign funds for you,” CNN’s Dana Bash said.

“You say very clearly you cut off ties with this person back in 2015 when you found out. You cooperated with the FBI, but the bottom line question is this. Did you put yourself in a vulnerable position in any way, so that this alleged Chinese spy could have benefited or even learned American secrets?” she asked.

“Absolutely not, but, Dana, don't take my word for it. Take the FBI's word for it. They never talk about ongoing investigations, and former Chairman Schiff knows this, as a member of the Gang of Eight,” Swalwell told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“Three different times, they came out and said two things. All I did was help them and, also, I was never under any suspicion of wrongdoing, but, more than that, Chairman -- Speaker Boehner was briefed on this investigation. He could have removed me, just as Speaker McCarthy did. He didn't,” the congressman said.

“Devin Nunes was the chair of the Intelligence Committee, never made a public peep about this. Paul Ryan would have access to the same investigation, reappointed me to the committee,” he said.

“Donald Trump, who villainized me at every rally, more access to classified information than any person who walked the earth, if he could have weaponized that to go after me, you know he would have. There's nothing there,” Swalwell said.

“I did what every American should have. This is some Bakersfield B.S. It's Kevin McCarthy weaponizing his ability to commit this political abuse, because he perceives me, just like Mr. Schiff and Ms. Omar, as an effective political opponent,” the congressman added.