The Fart Heard ‘Round the World [OPINION]

Among the most interesting things to happen on Capitol Hill in months is the debate over who let loose with a gas blast on live national television last night.

California's walking, talking Ken doll, Congressman Eric Swalwell, was being interviewed live by Chris Matthews on MSNBC when someone let it rip. According to video of the incident, the pro-impeachment Democrat who once claimed to have proof positive that Trump colluded with the Russians seemed to pause and smirk just a bit after the butt tremblor was recorded.

Swalwell denied breaking wind on live TV, and in fact in a text to BuzzFeed later in the evening, he reportedly denied any involvement: “It was not me!!!!!” he wrote. “Ha. And I didn’t hear it when I was speaking. It’s funny tho.”

So far no comment from Matthews or the folks at MSNBC, but Matthews certainly cannot be ruled out as a suspect given that he is known to be full of hot air and has admitted in the past, "I have this thrill going up my leg" while speaking of another Democrat, former President Barack Obama.

Swalwell is suspect as well, given the fact that he claimed to have the goods on Trump only to be caught fibbing. You fib about collusion evidence and no one will ever be able to trust you when you deny having farted on live TV.

This little mystery is easily resolvable. There were camera and technical crews at both the Capitol and the MSNBC studios that can testify to what they heard and saw – and smelled. Perhaps the cable news networks could put their nose for news to work and sniff it out.

Where is Little Adam Schiff when you need him? Forget the rigged impeachment hearings, this is serious stuff. We need to convene some secret hearings about what has transpired in the anals – err, annals – of the Capitol building right away. This time, though, someone may want to leave the door open, just in case.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.