California Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, shared a threatening voicemail he received from a fan of Fox News personality Tucker Carlson.
The voicemail, which Swalwell posted using his official Twitter account, features racist, homophobic and sexist expletives directed at the lawmaker for his role in condemning the actions of insurrectionists who stormed the United States Capitol on January 6.
At one point, the caller goes so far as to threaten Swalwell's family by saying he "ought to chop you and your family up and feed them to your dog."
Swalwell's response appeared measured and did not register any surprise. He suggested Carlson bears responsibility for the call.
Carlson has regularly pushed the "Big Lie" the 2020 election was fraudulent on his program and openly attacked Democrats who've condemned former President Donald Trump for inciting the insurrection.
WARNING: NSFW language and slurs
Listen to this. It\u2019s the Tucker Carlson effect. Tucker attacks me. His fans respond with threats to kill my family. And Tucker knows exactly what he\u2019s doing.pic.twitter.com/PsSLYbctXa— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@Rep. Eric Swalwell) 1634863289
Swalwell wrote:
"Listen to this. It's the Tucker Carlson effect. Tucker attacks me."
"His fans respond with threats to kill my family. And Tucker knows exactly what he's doing."
The voicemail has been widely shared.
Many have come to Swalwell's defense and have condemned Carlson and his program outright.
I just know\u2026 I just know other countries are looking at us in moments like this and wondering why we have such a divide. Perhaps, they even laugh because of how ignorant something like this may seem. @TuckerCarlson, you deserve to lose your platform.https://twitter.com/repswalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Bradley K. Click, Esquire. (@Bradley K. Click, Esquire.) 1635118462
I don't understand why inciting this kind of behavior isn't met with serious jail time? Tucker knows what he is doing!https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Renee (@Renee) 1634910919
This is who the republican party and Fox News panders to. Racism, homophobia and violence are completely acceptable as long as they get those votes. They want the support of these people and they feed into it.https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Tlkjustice30\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1 #FullyVaccinated #Maskedup (@Tlkjustice30\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1 #FullyVaccinated #Maskedup) 1635092387
This guys proudly identifies himself at the end as a member of \u201cTrump nation.\u201d Listen to this call. This is who the Trump-supporting Republicans in Congress and across the country are catering to. It\u2019s sickhttps://twitter.com/repswalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Asha Rangappa (@Asha Rangappa) 1634909978
Swalwell is correct. @TuckerCarlson knows exactly what his "free speech" does to radicalize a certain type of individual. Eventually one will take it too far ( & you could argue 06 JAN was that moment), but someone will get hurt. \n\nRemember: With Liberty comes Responsibility.https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Mission Critical (@Mission Critical) 1635039133
The amount of hate in this message is incomprehensible to me and I am sure I am not alone. I pray for @RepSwalwell and his families protection.https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Judith is vaccinated \ud83c\udf0a \u270d #HandMarkedPaperBallots (@Judith is vaccinated \ud83c\udf0a \u270d #HandMarkedPaperBallots) 1635173742
This is pitiful. @FoxNews , AKA fox entertainment, why do you keep allowing this? Tucker Carlson needs to go before he gets someone killed, if he hasn't alreadyhttps://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— Blue in red TN-NO LISTS! (@Blue in red TN-NO LISTS!) 1634949829
These hateful, racist Nazi #Maga pigs that @TuckerCarlson gleefully and knowingly promotes need to be shut down and jailed.\nThis is wrong and it will only get worse.https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— TekBurger\u2122 (@TekBurger\u2122) 1635040804
@TuckerCarlson #SorryExcuseForAHuman\nThis it's the hate and vitriol that your lies and what passes as a talk show causes. \nIf I were @RepSwalwell I would be trying out how to hold you accountable and definitely be turning your listener into the @FBIhttps://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1451347945069154307\u00a0\u2026— hillgal (@hillgal) 1635110532
Carlson has attacked Swalwell more than once, including during a particularly controversial segment in which he suggested Swalwell's campaign has financial problems.
During the segment, Carlson said more that $20,000 worth of Swalwell's campaign expenditures went to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, California, where, he noted, Swalwell's wife, Brittany Ann Watts, works as a sales director.
During that same segment, Carlson also brought up Swalwell's connection to Christine Fang, a Chinese spy who had since at least 2012 been cultivating contacts with California politicians who the Chinese government believed had promising futures in politics.
Fang had gotten close with Swalwell, at one point placing an intern inside his office. However, Swalwell cut ties with Fang in 2015 after U.S. intelligence briefed him and other members of Congress about concerns the Chinese were attempting to spy on the United States government.
Swalwell was never accused of wrongdoing and officials determined Fang did not obtain classified information from her contacts.
However, Carlson has alleged Swalwell had a sexual relationship with Fang, a claim that was never alleged in reports about the scandal and never been corroborated by any sources.
