Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell appears to be following in the footsteps of fellow liberal Alexandria Ocasio Cortez by taking a trip to mask-and mandate-free Florida – just days after lashing out at Republicans for ‘prolonging’ the coronavirus pandemic.
The California Democrat has accused conservatives of being responsible for the latest covid wave and blamed them for ‘canceled vacations’ and having to go back to wearing ‘masks everywhere,’ in a furious tweet last week.
But it seems Swalwell, himself, however, was able to go ahead with his holiday travel plans and ditch his mask just days later, when he was spotted hanging out at the posh Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
The 41-year-old, who represents parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, was seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos Tuesday chatting with a female friend at the hotel lobby while looking after his infant son.
Swalwell appeared dressed for the warm Miami weather, sporting a blush-colored polo, shorts, and boat shoes.
Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell was seen maskless while vacationing in restriction-free Florida on Tuesday, just days after blaming Republicans for ‘canceled vacations’ and ‘prolonging’ the pandemic
Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show the California Democrat, 41, with his infant son while chatting to a female friend in the lobby of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Swalwell, who welcomed a baby boy in November with wife Brittany, has been a huge proponent of vaccine and mask mandates – something that Florida has refused to implement during the pandemic
Despite being out of his usual office attire, it wasn’t long before the congressman was recognized and approached by bystanders who quickly commented on his unlikely visit to the Sunshine State.
The congressman took aim at the GOP with a scathing New Year’s Eve tweet accusing them of being responsible for the latest wave coronavirus cases
‘When a guest saw [Swalwell] sitting there with his child and another person they sarcastically said, “Nice to see you in Miami”,’ one eyewitness told DailyMail.com. ‘He said: “Thank you.”‘
But when the hotel guest went on to ask about his lack of face covering and if he was vaccinated, Swalwell was left ‘speechless,’ according to the source.
DailyMail.com has contacted the congressman’s office for comment.
Swalwell, like many fellow Democrats, has been a huge proponent of mask and vaccine mandates throughout the pandemic and has openly criticized his conservative counterparts for failing to enforce such measures to help combat the rise in coronavirus cases.
Weeks earlier, the father-of-three had reiterated calls for vaccine mandates after saying that it is ‘one-hundred percent batty that the unvaccinated are allowed to fly.’
‘It’s unsafe in the cabin and we are transporting the virus,’ he tweeted while on a flight to San Francisco on December 19.
‘Requiring the vaccine to fly is the LEAST we can do to stop the spread.’
According to an eyewitness, Swalwell was soon recognized by bystanders, such as one guest who commented on his unlikely visit to the Sunshine State
Despite lamenting canceled vacations and having to resort to masks again, Swalwell, was apparently able to go ahead with his holiday travel plans and ditch his mask in Miami days later
Swalwell, pictured left with wife Brittany Watts, has been a popular target for Republicans, particularly for his role as a House manager during the second impeachment of President Donald Trump
Swalwell doubled down on his support for covid-related mandates in another tweet on New Year’s Eve, this time pointing the finger at Republicans after the GOP questioned the efficacy of covid vaccine boosters.
‘As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic, you should know who has prolonged it. THESE GUYS. Republican liars. Your vacation cancelled. Your kids back to virtual learning. And back to masks everywhere. For blame look no farther than #theseguys,’ Swalwell tweeted.
The father-of-three reiterated calls for vaccine mandates on December 19 after saying it is ‘one-hundred percent batty that the unvaccinated are allowed to fly’
Swalwell’s trip to Florida – which has drawn the ire of liberals for its lax covid rules – came just days after fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was photographed having lunch with her boyfriend Riley Roberts in Miami.
Former Trump advisor Steve Cortes shared a photo of the sighting on Twitter Friday, questioning why the New York liberal was ‘frolicking in free Florida’, while her home state enforced mask and vaccine mandates.
‘1. If Leftists like AOC actually thought mandates and masking worked, they wouldn’t be frolicking in free FL. 2. Her guy is showing his gross pale male feet in public (not at a pool/beach) with hideous sandals,’ Cortes tweeted.
Ocasio-Cortez scornfully replied with scorn and bizarrely claimed Republicans were angry with her because they couldn’t date her.
‘If Republicans are mad they can’t date me they can just say that instead of projecting their sexual frustrations onto my boyfriend’s feet. Ya creepy weirdos,’ she wrote.
She continued: ‘It’s starting to get old ignoring the very obvious, strange, and deranged sexual frustrations that underpin the Republican fixation on me, women,& LGBT+ people in general.
‘These people clearly need therapy, won’t do it, and use politics as their outlet instead. It’s really weird.’
Swalwell’s trip to Florida – which has been widely criticized by liberals over its lax covid rules – came just days after fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was photographed having lunch with her boyfriend Riley Roberts in Miami
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the so-called ‘lockdown politicians’ during a press conference Monday for vacationing in restriction-free Florida during the pandemic despite pushing for mask and vaccine mandates in their own states
Her reaction sparked a firestorm on social media with many ridiculing her bizarre claim and accusing her of being a hypocrite.
The Squad leader nonetheless carried on with her vacation and was later seen partying at a ‘drag brunch’ event on Sunday with actor Billy Porter.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis on Monday blasted the so-called ‘lockdown politicians,’ like AOC for flocking to the state during the pandemic despite pushing for mask and vaccine mandates in their own districts.
‘If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician that decided to escape to Florida over the last two years, I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man,’ Gov. DeSantis said during a press conference Monday. ‘Congresspeople, mayors, governors, you name it.’
The governor suggested the politicians were hypocrites, saying: ‘I think a lot of Floridians will say “wait a minute, you’re bashing us because we’re not doing your draconian policies and yet we’re the first place you want to flee to…to be able to enjoy life.”‘
DeSantis stated the hypocrisy extends beyond the New York representative, alleging ‘there are probably about a half dozen governors who have restrictions on their people and then were spotted at various points in Florida’.
‘Some of it’s been public, some of it has not been public,’ he added. ‘I am happy though that Florida is a place where people know they can come, they can live like normal people and they can make their own decisions.’
