The Californian Democrat, Eric Swalwell, paused during his reply to Hardball show host Chris Matthews as a loud farting noise was caught on the microphone
California Democrat Eric Swalwell appeared on the show Hardball on Monday with host Chris Matthews regarding the impeachment hearing.
Mr Matthews asked Swalwell about the evidence submitted in relation to President Trump’s alleged phone call with Ukraine’s president in the summer.
Swalwell answered with an unusual pause: “The evidence is uncontradicted that the president used taxpayer dollars to ask the Ukrainians to help him cheat … an election.”
The Democrat appeared to react to the loud passing gas while trying not to smile and continue the interview.
He has since denied that it was him.
But others pointed out that the fart sound was clearer than Swalwell talking, with one asking: “Is there a special mic location for politics that we’re all just learning about?”
Another one wrote: “The slight pause as he realizes he can’t hold it in any longer is pure gold.”
A third one said: “At first I was like nahhh. No way it was that loud. Then I watched his face again. Yea, he did it. That happened.”
In response to the incident, Swalwell replied to Buzzfeed in a text message saying that he had nothing to do with it.
He wrote: “It was not me!!! Ha. And I didn’t hear it when I was speaking.”
A Twitter account run by the show Hardball posted a message later on the same day explaining the sound was a ‘mug scraping across the desk’.
The post read: “Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists – it was the #hardball mug scraping across the desk.Swalwell retweeted with a comment: “TOTAL EXONERATION!”
GMB host Piers Morgan was left in hysterics as he mocked Swalwell in the show this morning.
He and co-host Susanna Reid also pointed out Swalwell’s movement hinted it was more than just a cup
