Democrat mocks Republican Senator over threats made against her, and gets swift blowback

Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) was forced to delete a very dismissive and mocking tweet aimed at a female Republican Senator over threats made against her office.

"Boo hoo hoo"

Republican Senator Collins of Maine is considered one of the "swing votes" for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and she lamented that she had become the target of threats by those trying to sway her vote.

Swalwell mocked her statement in a tweet that was excoriated by both sides for its insensitivity.

"Boo hoo hoo," he mocked. "You're a senator who police will protect. A sexual assault victim can't sleep in her home tonight because of threats."

"Where are you sleeping?" he continued his taunt. "She's on her own while you and your @SenateGOP colleagues try to rush her through a hearing."

"To dismiss this... is really sick!"

Swalwell was berated for his insensitive tweet on CNN by Republican strategist Amanda Carpenter, who cited recent acts of violence against Republican members of Congress including Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

"I was really disappointed to see Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell say 'boo hoo' to that. Boo hoo? Excuse me, there was a Congressional baseball shooting not that long ago, Rand Paul's neighbor broke his ribs. Violence is happening"

"To dismiss this, in this environment, is really sick!" she concluded.

"I said something stupid"

The Democratic rep. eventually deleted the tweet and apologized.

"Sexual assault victims deserve respect," he said in a second tweet hours later after the backlash. "And senators shouldn’t be threatened by the public."

"I said something stupid and minimized ugly behavior," he added. "That tweet is deleted and I’m sorry for that."

Collins has not yet decided whether she will vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.