Swalwell on flatulence allegation: Total exoneration

Rep. Eric Swalwell (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.

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. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 18, 2019

#Fartgate
Sorry, @RepSwalwell – we’re not buying your excuses across the pond. Own your trump…. https://t.co/M6y8g2bpsE

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 19, 2019

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—

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

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 18, 2019

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