Pro-mandate Rep. Eric Swalwell called out after being caught maskless in Florida: 'It's not hypocrisy. It's hierarchy.'



Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) – who claimed last week that Republicans "prolonged" the COVID-19 pandemic and caused vacations to be canceled – was caught maskless indoors while visiting in the red state of Florida.

The Daily Mail published photos of a casually dressed Swalwell sitting in the lobby of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel without a mask, holding his infant son while speaking to a woman.

Swalwell – who has fully supported strict COVID-19 protocols in California – lashed out at the publication for exposing him not wearing a face mask while indoors.

He tweeted, "They got me! Maskless, juggling a baby and a coffee while meeting with a Congolese queen. Pulitzer please!"

"Funny they didn’t use this picture in their headline, taking a cup of coffee to my mouth," Swalwell said on Wednesday. "And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank’s face. He’s too damn cute!"

Funny they didn\u2019t use this picture in their headline, taking a cup of coffee to my mouth. And thanks @DailyMail for not blurring out Hank\u2019s face. He\u2019s too damn cute!pic.twitter.com/y617ATH2u8
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1641424609

Swalwell's office gave a statement on his trip to Florida.

"The Congressman was in the Sunshine State to take official meetings and campaign to help Democrats keep the House," Swalwell's office said. "He loves Florida and has dozens of family members there. It is lies from unvaccinated Republicans that are prolonging the pandemic."

Swalwell has repeatedly scapegoated Republicans for the COVID-19 pandemic, including taking potshots at GOP leaders for refusing to enact mask mandates.

"As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic, you should know who has prolonged it," Swalwell wrote last Friday. "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."

Swalwell attacked GOP members in August, "THEY refuse to require masks. THEY LIE about vaccines. Your kids are in danger. Teachers are dying. Why? Because #THOSEGUYS in the Radical Republican Party."

Swalwell – who represents California's 15th Congressional District near San Francisco –has criticized the flexible pandemic management by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In March 2020, Swalwell called DeSantis "selfish" for not closing Florida beaches.

In August 2021, Swalwell chided DeSantis for giving Florida parents the decision to send their children to school with masks or not.

Christina Pushaw – the press secretary for DeSantis – slammed Swalwell for his getaway to the free state of Florida.

"If Swalwell truly believed his own rhetoric about COVID, Florida, and mandates, he would not take his maskless unvaccinated baby to Loews Hotel South Beach during the Omicron case surge in Miami," Pushaw wrote on Twitter. "It's not hypocrisy. It's hierarchy."

Pushaw added, "I thought Democrats believed Florida is a dystopia of sickness and death."

Swalwell joins fellow Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in ditching face masks to enjoy a retreat in mandate-free Florida. AOC was labeled as a "hypocrite" after she was caught partying maskless at a crowded drag queen bar in Miami on Sunday.

After being called out for alleged hypocrisy, AOC attempted to deflect from the controversy by claiming that she was only criticized by conservatives because "Republicans are mad they can’t date me."

On Monday, DeSantis commented on Democrats flocking to Florida.

"If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida over the last two years, I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man, let me tell you," DeSantis quipped. "I mean, congresspeople, mayors, governors, I mean, you name it."

He added that Floridians often question lockdown-happy leaders who escape to the Sunshine State.

"I think a lot of Floridians 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 be able to enjoy life.'"

Teachers union president and Chuck Schumer caught maskless at political retreat in Puerto Rico



Democratic New York lawmakers, union leaders, and lobbyists flocked to Puerto Rico last week to participate in the annual SOMOS legislative conference. The SOMOS conference featured prominent New York Democratic politicians, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams, Attorney General Letitia James, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Also in attendance at the political retreat were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, both of whom were spotted maskless during the conference.

In Puerto Rico, masks are required in all indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. However, Weingarten was seen maskless with other conference attendees who were also not wearing face coverings.

Gotta love when school leaders @rweingarten @DOEChancellor mingle with others..in a packed room...with no masks..yet...I wonder if everyone needed proof of Vax to attend this 'work vaca'...they sure didn't need masks...@AppletoZucchini @daniela127 @Chalkbeatpic.twitter.com/Tjr4dQsiu1

— Adriana Aviles (@nanalatinaAA) 1636151440

Ironically, Weingarten has previously called for all students and children to wear masks. "Universal masking in schools can save lives," she wrote in August.

Universal masking in schools can save lives. \u00a0https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/opinion/covid-schools-masks.html\u00a0\u2026

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) 1628645131

AFT\u2019s @rweingarten says \u201cuniversal masking\u201d is needed to keep schools open: \n\n\u201cWe see the Delta variant be very transmissible. And so that\u2019s why what masks do is masks stop transmission. So universal masking is going to be very helpful to keep kids safe."pic.twitter.com/mjH0Fg9IPB

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) 1627914849

440 students in Palm Beach County in quarantine two days into school year, superintendent says- we need universal masking in Fla schools \u2066@FloridaEA\u2069https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-students-quarantined-20210812-tva5ecdlnjdbjbcdxukekzyi4e-story.html\u00a0\u2026

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) 1628801136

After being called out for her hypocrisy, Weingarten attempted to explain why she wasn't wearing a mask.

"I wear a mask most of the time indoors," Weingarten responded. "We took them off as people were having a hard time hearing us."

"You could not be Somos or the hotel or panel w/o proof of vaccination. I had also just done a rapid Covid test & was negative," said Weingarten, the head of the second-largest teachers union in the nation. "Frankly I think you are right. If kids are wearing masks in schools to protect themselves & others educators must wear masks inside as well. I'm sorry."

She wrote on Twitter, "I wore my mask the rest of the conference."

Daniela Jampel — mother of three and founding member of the grassroots, nonpartisan group Keep NYC Schools Open — told Fox News, "Ms. Weingarten's response articulates what so many parents already know - masks are a hindrance to communication and to learning. But unlike adults, when kids in school can't understand or hear their teacher, or can't be understood or heard themselves, they do not have the option of simply removing their masks."

Also at SOMOS, Chuck Schumer was caught without a mask while indoors surrounded by people in a crowded room with no social distancing being practiced. Schumer was seen maskless dancing hand-in-hand with New York City Council member Carlina Rivera (D), who was also not wearing a mask.

How many Speaker race points for a Merengue with @SenSchumer? @CarlinaRivera goes all in:pic.twitter.com/gR547gwbL8

— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) 1636160620

Schumer is feeling the music at Somos pic.twitter.com/voQZ7KgsMb

— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) 1636160167

There is a long list of Democrats who have violated COVID-19 guidances, including: President Joe Biden, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Biden's special envoy on climate John Kerry, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Los Angeles County supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

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