Did Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., lie during a House hearing and face charges as a consequence? That’s what a Facebook post suggested.
“‘THEY DEFUND F.BI’ Swalwell DESTROYS his career after lying to Jim Jordan…faces CHARGES INSTANTLY,” read the caption of a May 26 Facebook video.
The post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
The video was clipped from a Feb. 28 House Judiciary Committee hearing, led by committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. The hearing, on the judiciary authorization and oversight plan for the 118th Congress, does not show that Swalwell “faced charges instantly” after he spoke.
We found no court records, news reports, or other evidence that Swalwell faced charges after he spoke at the hearing.
A few days before this claim circulated, news reports and a statement from Swalwell revealed that the House Ethics Committee ended a two-year investigation into Swalwell’s conduct in connection with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative and decided against further action.
We rate the claim that Swalwell is facing charges False.
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There is no evidence that Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is facing charges.
Statement
Context
a Facebook postSpeaker/Target
Statement Date
Our Sources
Facebook post, May 26, 2023
Congress stream, Markup of the Committee on the Judiciary Authorization and Oversight Plan for the 118th Congress, Feb. 28, 2023
CBS News, House Ethics Committee ends investigation into Rep. Eric Swalwell, taking no action, May 24, 2023
CNN, House Ethics Committee closes Swalwell investigation, May 23, 2023
Press release from Eric Swalwell, May 23, 2023
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