Eric Swalwell goes maskless in Florida after claiming red states 'prolonged' pandemic

Less than a week after slamming red states for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was seen vacationing mask-free in Florida.

As his home state of California continues to ramp up COVID-19 restrictions, Florida remains determined to make personal liberty and freedom priority number one. The lack of mandates has made it one of the number one tourist destinations in America, and as of late, a number of Democrats have taken a trip down.

The latest Democrat to be spotted living it up in the sunshine state is Rep. Eric Swalwell of California. As Fox News reports, he was seen on Tuesday sitting unmasked with his infant son and a female friend in the lobby of Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Swalwell has long been critical of Republican-led states' handling of the pandemic, sentiments which he expressed in a tweet on New Year's Eve.

"As we end 2021, mired in a deadly pandemic," Rep. Swalwell wrote, "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 seems to have ignored Florida, where kids are in classrooms, masks are few and far between, and, as he himself proved, vacations are not cancelled.

On Wednesday, Rep. Swalwell took to Twitter to respond to those who called him out on his hypocrisy. "They got me!" he said. "Maskless, juggling a baby and a coffee while meeting with a Congolese queen. Pulitzer please!"

Fellow Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was spotted "enjoying a taste of freedom" in Florida last Thursday with her boyfriend.

Following the incident, Gov. DeSantis joked about all the Democrats he's seen visiting his state. "If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida over the last two years," he said, "I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man, let me tell you. I mean, Congress people, mayors, governors, I mean you name it."

"It’s interesting the reception that some of these folks will get in Florida," he continued, "because I think a lot of Floridians 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 basically to be able to enjoy life."

California's case count has consistently remained higher than that of Florida, even as both states deal with the recent spike due to the more contagious Omicron variant.