Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) jokingly demanded a Pulitzer Prize for The Daily Mail on Wednesday after the outlet published photos of him in Florida, maskless and holding his son while he sipped coffee at the Miami Beach Loews Hotel.
The Daily Mail’s headline reads, “EXCLUSIVE: ‘Masks everywhere. Vacation cancelled.’ But not for Eric Swalwell! Democratic congressman follows in AOC’s footsteps and goes maskless at posh Miami hotel in mandate-free Florida, days after blaming GOP for ‘prolonging’ the pandemic.”
The outlet pointed to Swalwell’s recent comments blaming “Republican lies” for the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic — “As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic, you should know who has prolonged it. THESE GUYS. Republican liars. Your vacation cancelled. Your kids back to virtual learning. And back to masks everywhere. For blame look no farther than #TheseGuys” — and noted that the California Congressman appeared to have no issue with the free state of Florida when he was visiting there.
As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic, you should know who has prolonged it. THESE GUYS. Republican liars. Your vacation cancelled. Your kids back to virtual learning. And back to masks everywhere. For blame look no farther than #TheseGuys. pic.twitter.com/v3S43HKPVZ
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 31, 2021
Swalwell shared a screenshot of the article on his own Twitter account, adding, “They got me! Maskless, juggling a baby and a coffee while meeting with a Congolese queen. Pulitzer please!”
They got me! Maskless, juggling a baby and a coffee while meeting with a Congolese queen. Pulitzer please! https://t.co/ai3RmuGM4q
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 5, 2022
He went on to share another picture from the article — one showing him with the coffee cup actually in his hand — and wondering why The Daily Mail had chosen to call him out for being “maskless” when he was actively drinking. “And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank’s face. He’s too damn cute!” he added.
Funny they didn’t use this picture in their headline, taking a cup of coffee to my mouth. And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank’s face. He’s too damn cute! pic.twitter.com/y617ATH2u8
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 5, 2022
Swalwell’s office told The Daily Mail in a statement, “The Congressman was in the Sunshine State to take official meetings and campaign to help Democrats keep the House. He loves Florida and has dozens of family members there. It is lies from unvaccinated Republicans that are prolonging the pandemic.”
Swalwell’s trip to Florida comes just days after photos of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) vacationing there over the New Year’s holiday went viral, prompting critics to slam her for vacationing while her home state dealt with a record-shattering wave of COVID-19 cases. Ocasio-Cortez responded by claiming that Republicans only attacked her because they were mad they couldn’t date her.
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to Ocasio-Cortez’s trip to the Sunshine State, saying that he was not surprised to see “lockdown” politicians — most of whom favored more draconian mandates and policies in their own states — enjoying their time in his state.
“Look, I think if you — if I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida over the last 2 years… I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man, let me tell ya,” DeSantis said.
“I mean, Congresspeople, mayors, governors, I mean, you name it. It’s interesting though, the reception that some of these folks will get in Florida. Because I think a lot of Floridians will say ‘Wait a minute, you’re bashing us because we’re not doing your draconian policies, and yet we’re the first place you want to flee to to basically to be able to enjoy life. And so I’m not surprised to see that continue to happen,” he added.