Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.) on Friday chided Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) for falsely claiming that he retired from Congress to collect a "fat lobbyist paycheck."
Warren, who has railed against lobbyists and special interests, tweeted out a Daily Caller article highlighting Gowdy's next career move after retiring from Congress.
"The former Republican South Carolina representative will join Nelson Mullins, the South Carolina-based law and lobbying firm announced," the Daily Caller reported. "Gowdy, 54, worked at Nelson Mullins through 1994, when he left the firm to become an assistant federal prosecutor."
Warren, who announced earlier this week that she is forming a 2020 exploratory committee for president, responded by tweeting that it is clear Gowdy "just wanted a fat lobbyist paycheck."
Warren's tweet prompted Gowdy to respond, "I'm not lobbying. Not now. Or ever. Perhaps you were cracking open a beer when that was announced." Gowdy's line about "cracking open a beer" was a reference to Warren's viral Instagram live video during which she opened a beer.
"Don't mind your criticisms. Just be more sensitive to facts," Gowdy added.
.@ewarren I’m not lobbying. Not now. Or ever. Perhaps you were cracking open a beer when that was announced. Don’t mind your criticisms. Just be more sensitive to facts.
— Trey Gowdy (@TGowdySC) January 4, 2019
Warren went on to call for a "lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress," arguing that Congress should not be a "launching pad for guys like @TGowdySC & @JoeLieberman to enrich themselves."
We need a lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress. And fix the swiss cheese def of 'lobbying" so anyone who gets paid to influence Washington has to register. Public service shouldn’t be a launching pad for guys like @TGowdySC & @JoeLieberman to enrich themselves.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 4, 2019