Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell compared President Donald Trump to Osama Bin Laden before the House vote to impeach the president for a second time.
In an interview with PBS News Hour, Swalwell said Trump’s actions were comparable to the Bin Laden after rioters supporting Trump stormed the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, committing acts of vandalism and violence and postponing the electoral college certification process, forcing members of Congress to evacuate the building.
“Well, Osama Bin Laden did not enter US soil on September 11, but it was widely acknowledged that he was responsible for inspiring the attack on our country and the president, with his words, using the word fight… that is hate speech that inspired and radicalized people to storm the Capitol,” Swalwell said in the interview.
Swalwell was then asked if he was comparing Trump to Bin Laden, to which he did not directly respond to the question.
“I’m comparing the words of a individual who would incite and radicalize somebody as Osama Bin Laden did to what President Trump did. You don’t actually have to commit the violence yourself but if you call others to violence that itself is a crime,” he said.
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In December, a group of 17 top House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi demanding Swalwell be removed from the House Intelligence Committee after news broke about his relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.
The House impeachment resolution charges Trump with one article of “incitement of insurrection” and the effort is being led by Democratic Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California. Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced at least one article of impeachment against Trump on Monday morning. (RELATED: REPORT: McConnell Believes Trump Committed Impeachable Offenses)
A number of Republicans have said they will vote to impeach Trump Wednesday and in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly considering voting to convict Trump in an impeachment trial. (RELATED: GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger Will Vote To Impeach President Trump, Joining Cheney, Katko)
Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller when asked about his comments about Trump.