Rep. Eric Swalwell
Eric Michael SwalwellLawmakers prep ahead of impeachment hearing Trump: Fox News 'panders' to Democrats by having on liberal guests Democrats could introduce articles of impeachment next week MORE (D-Calif.) said he had been cleared of suspicion after MSNBC's official "Hardball" Twitter account said a loud sound resembling flatulence during his interview did not come from Swalwell, but from a "coffee mug scraping across the desk" of host Chris Matthews.
Swalwell made the comment in a tweet on Monday night.
TOTAL EXONERATION! https://t.co/JAuTsnCjAC
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 18, 2019
During Monday night's "Hardball," a noise that sounded like a case of flatulence could be heard during the interview.
"Chris, so far the evidence is uncontradicted that the president used taxpayer dollars to help him cheat an election," Swalwell told Matthews regarding impeachment proceedings of President Trump
Donald John TrumpThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by AdvaMed - House panel expected to approve impeachment articles Thursday Democrats worried by Jeremy Corbyn's UK rise amid anti-Semitism Warren, Buttigieg duke it out in sprint to 2020 MORE.
A loud flatulence sound could clearly be heard during a pause in Swalwell's answer, prompting the clip to immediately go viral.
The official "Hardball" Twitter account addressed the issue later on Monday night.
Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists - it was the #hardball mug scraping across the desk. Get yours today and let’s get back to the news! https://t.co/SG8Owm2IBw
— Hardball (@hardball) November 18, 2019
"Fartgate" trended at #1 on Twitter for several hours Monday night into Tuesday, with many media members, the president's eldest son, and activist and actress Alyssa Milano weighing in.
Most intelligible thing to come out of Swalwell in years. #fartgate https://t.co/LT7MXAkIRB
— Donald Trump Jr.Donald (Don) John TrumpTrump Jr. blasts Time for choosing 'marketing gimmick' Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year White House calls Democratic witness's mentioning of president's youngest son 'classless' Lawmakers to watch during Wednesday's impeachment hearing MORE (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 18, 2019
#Fartgate
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 19, 2019
Sorry, @RepSwalwell - we're not buying your excuses across the pond. Own your trump.... https://t.co/M6y8g2bpsE
Stop spoiling the fun! Eric Fartwell has brought much needed joy to Twitter in a time when the country has never been more divided.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) November 18, 2019
Powered by #fartgate, Rep. Eric Swalwell rejoins Democratic Primary race…. https://t.co/bbQl6fAlrJ
— Colby Hall (@colbyhall) November 19, 2019
I'm not saying that Swalwell was definitely the one that ripped it, but in slow motion you can see his body lift up momentarily as he takes a break from speaking just as the fart is unleashed. #fartgate pic.twitter.com/6qYw8r0fTf
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) November 18, 2019
There are two types of people in the world—
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 18, 2019
1. People who think farts are funny.
2. People who don’t think farts are funny.
It is pretty much all you need to know about a person. Which are you?
(I think they’re hilarious.)#fartgate
Unless you’re telling me that thing bounced through the echoey Capitol building, into Swalwell’s lav mic, through control to the main audio, then that is one magic fart. There is also, of course, the possibility that there was a second farter. #fartgate #fin
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 18, 2019
