Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Monday she has no plans to apologize to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), whom she claimed attempted to have her murdered.
Ocasio-Cortez was asked about her Jan. 28 tweet, in which she wrote that Cruz “almost had me murdered [three] weeks ago.” When those words were repeated back to her Monday, the 31-year-old Democrat said, “OK, so, um, that’s not the quote and I will not apologize for what I said.”
“Guys, I think we’re actually done this morning,” added one of what appeared to be Ocasio-Cortez’s staffers as the lawmaker was ushered away from reporters.
What are the details?
As Faithwire previously reported, there was a brief moment of camaraderie between Ocasio-Cortez, a self-avowed socialist, and Cruz, a conservative Republican, when the latter agreed with his House colleague’s rebuke of Robinhood, the stock-trading app, for blocking investors from purchasing stock amid the frenzy last month over GameStop stock.
Cruz said via Twitter he agreed “fully” with Ocasio-Cortez.
Less than one hour later, Ocasio-Cortez unleashed on Cruz, whom she said was attempting to have her killed — a baseless attack centered on Cruz’s decision to sign a written objection to certifying Arizona’s Electoral College votes at the beginning of the joint session of Congress Jan. 6, when lawmakers met to certify now-President Joe Biden’s election victory.
Ocasio-Cortez has suggested Cruz was somehow involved in the riot that broke out Jan. 6 inside the U.S. Capitol.
There is no evidence to suggest that’s true. Cruz has also repeatedly condemned the violence that unfolded in Washington, D.C., describing Jan. 6 as a “really sad day for the country.”
Cruz’s Republican colleague Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) described Ocasio-Cortez’s unfounded attack against the Texas senator as “neither acceptable more excusable,” adding she should “immediately and publicly … retract her statement and apologize.”
“I think she should be admonished or censured by the House,” he added. “This is not acceptable. If you disagree with me on this, I would sincerely welcome your feedback. But it violates every instinct in me to sit back and do nothing in response to such an accusation. Especially at a moment like this, we really shouldn’t ignore it.”
Cruz, for his part, said Ocasio-Cortez’s inflammatory claims are “not conductive to healing or unity,” two things Biden promised would be central to his governing style.