Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell of California was hit with a backlash of ridicule after he tried to blame Republicans for a horrific shooting at a church in California.
Police were still investigating the shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods on Sunday when Swalwell assumed the attacker’s motivation to be something related to the Republican party.
“Sorry @housegop that the parishioners hog-tied your boy,” tweeted Swalwell, adding a hashtag for “Sorry, not sorry,” and a link to the story documenting how parishioners hog-tied the suspect.
On Monday, police said that they believed the suspect had attacked the church out of his animosity for the Taiwanese people and called it a “politically motivated hate incident.”
They identified the assailant as David Chou, 68. Chou is an immigrant from China and lived in multiple places in the U.S. before he ended up in Las Vegas, Nevada. His bail was set at $1 million.
Critics of Swalwell rushed to excoriate the Democrat for rushing to blame Republicans without any evidence to prove his contention.
“The shooter was from mainland China… targeting Taiwanese-American Christians. Sounds like he may have been more your boy, Congressman,” read one popular response.
“I’m beginning to think you’re just an all around horrible human being who needs to reevaluate his entire life,” responded commentator Justin Haskins.
“A representative is openly celebrating the death of an innocent person,” read another tweet. “Miserable POS.”
“You are an awful, awful human being,” read another response.
“This guy might not be the dumbest member of Congress, but it’s likely,” replied another detractor.
Others made jokes referencing Swalwell’s previous relationship with a woman that was later revealed to be a Chinese spy.
One man was killed and four others were wounded in the attack on Sunday. Police praised former Pastor Billy Chang as a hero for fighting back against the attacker and likely preventing far more casualties.
Here’s more about the church shooting:
Shooting At Taiwanese Church ‘Politically Motivated Hate Incident’: Officials
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