Heated text exchange

Eric Swalwell shares purported heated text exchange with Fox News' Tucker Carlson

Eric Ting

Bay Area Rep. Eric Swalwell and Fox News host Tucker Carlson really do not like each other, and the feud escalated last week when Carlson ran a segment on reports that Swalwell used thousands of dollars in campaign funds on alcohol, limousines and other luxury items.

Carlson called Swalwell a "not very bright third string Democratic Congressman from the East Bay" and made several references to Fang Fang, the reported Chinese spy connected to Swalwell. But what really set Swalwell off was when Carlson took aim at the congressman's wife, who was a former executive at the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton, a hotel where Swalwell spent $21,000.

Swalwell has denied doing anything illegal, and on Friday, shared a purported text conversation with Carlson that appears to open with the Fox News host asking Swalwell to call him.

"Tucker, I’m hesitant to do that," Swalwell replied. "You falsely smeared my wife on Tuesday and she’s getting death threats. That’s way out of bounds. She’s a pregnant mom of a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Hit me all you like. But to go after her. That’s just wrong."

"Coward," Carlson purportedly replied.

Swalwell also shared a screenshot of a supposed missed call from Carlson, and tweeted, "After years of lying about me and my family, @TuckerCarlson is losing his mind that I won’t return his calls. Sorry, Tucker, I’m just not that into you. Who knows what lie he’ll tell next? #TuckerTantrum."

Carlson is reportedly very chatty off camera, with the New York Times describing him as someone who "spends his time when he’s not denouncing the liberal media trading gossip with them," serving as "the go-to guy for sometimes-unflattering stories about Donald J. Trump and for coverage of the internal politics of Fox News."