Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, on Friday debunked reports that said the president was angry with Pam Bondi and suspected the now former attorney general had tipped off a candidate for California governor about a potentially damaging FBI investigation about him and his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
Swalwell told CNN anchor Pamela Brown that he denied the claims, saying he did not have any direct conversations with either Bondi or now acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He called out Trump for attempting to interfere in the upcoming California gubernatorial election in May, a crowded race that Swalwell has been leading as the top Democratic contender according to recent polls.
"No, absolutely not," Swalwell said. "In fact, it's laughable. And the president was tweeting about this at 4:45 in the morning yesterday. Again, we're at war. And the FBI is focused on interfering in a California governor's race where I am leading, when they should just be focused on the homeland."
Swalwell suggested what actually happened.
"And it looks like from the Washington Post and New York Times reporting that they were tipped off by FBI agents who were alarmed that the president and the FBI director would use the FBI to try and interfere in an election 30 days before Californians start voting," Swalwell added. "They should just focus on bringing down the gas prices and protecting the homeland. That's what I'm focused on in my job in Congress and my candidacy to be governor of California. They should do the same."