By James Tweedie, Feb 6, 2021
Claims by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that she narrowly escaped murder at the hands of the Capitol rioters have been cast into doubt by her own claim to be sheltering in a separate building, which fellow representatives say protesters never entered.
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been ripped over her claims she was almost killed during the January 6 Capitol occupation.
AOC’s dramatic account of the “very close encounter where I thought I was going to die” during the protest against fellow Democrat Joe Biden’s confirmation as president has been challenged by fellow House representatives and media commentators.
She said calls for political reconciliation since were “the same tactics of abusers,” tearfully claiming: “I’m a survivor of sexual assault.”
The known victims on the day are Ashli Babbitt, a US Air Force veteran fatally shot by a plain-clothes officer as she tried to enter the House chamber, and police officer Brian Sicknick, who died later after reportedly being hit with a thrown object. Former president Donald Trump faces an impeachment trial in the Senate over claims he incited the occupation.
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A key hole in AOC’s story is that she was reportedly not inside the Capitol when several hundred protesters entered, but across the road in the Longworth House Office Building. By AOC’s own account, she and her staff barricaded themselves inside fellow Democrat Congresswoman Katie Porter’s office in the building.
Republican South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace called AOC’s account “fictitious,” pointing out her office is two doors down the hallway from the New York representative’s which the protesters never entered.
.@AOC made clear she didn’t know who was at her door. Breathless attempts by media to fan fictitious news flames are dangerous.
My office is 2 doors down. Insurrectionists never stormed our hallway. Egregious doesn’t even begin to cover it. Is there nothing MSM won’t politicize? pic.twitter.com/Tl1GiPSOft
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) February 2, 2021
AOC has already admitted that the person she believed was a rioter come to kill her was in fact a Capitol police force officer, although she felt “anger and hostility” from him.
.@AOC describes a Capitol Police officer bursting into her office, says his presence “didn’t feel right” and that he was looking at her “in all of this anger and hostility.” Her staffer reportedly wondered if he would have to fight the officer. pic.twitter.com/LCj2JmmFP6
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 2, 2021
Conservative political commentator Jack Posobiec pointed out the location of Porter’s office in relation to the Capitol.
Fact-check pic.twitter.com/tLoJ3HxcQP
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 3, 2021
AOC hit back in a tweet earlier this week against what she dubbed “the latest manipulative take on the right,” claiming the separate office building across the public Independence Avenue was part of a “complex” with the Capitol—and that “Trump supporters” planted bombs all around it.
This is the latest manipulative take on the right.
They are manipulating the fact that most people don’t know the layout the Capitol complex.
We were all on the Capitol complex – the attack wasn’t just on the dome.
The bombs Trump supporters planted surrounded our offices too. pic.twitter.com/jI18e0XRrd
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 3, 2021
She also accused Mace of doubting “survivors,” seemingly comparing herself to a war veteran:
Wild that @NancyMace is discrediting herself less than 1 mo in office w/ such dishonest attacks. She *went on record* saying she barricaded in fear.@NancyMace who else’s experiences will you minimize?Capitol Police in Longworth? Custodial workers who cleaned up shards of glass? https://t.co/l1CT0jIXJF
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2021
Conservative commentator Candace Owens pointed out that only two pipe bombs were planted, outside the offices of Republican and Democratic national committees the night before the January 6 protest—and the FBI are still trying to identify a suspect.
This is a dangerous lie and @TwitterSafety should remove it. There were absolutely ZERO bombs planted by “Trump supporters”
Pipe bombs were planted outside of both Republican and Democratic Headquarters the night before Trump’s speech—and the FBI has no idea who planted them. https://t.co/SB9zLqpBEa— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) February 3, 2021
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Posobiec also tried to corner AOC on Biden’s continued policy of detaining child illegal immigrants.
Comment @AOC? Since I have your attention
Biden is Putting Migrant Kids in Cages And Now 'AOC' Doesn't Care. https://t.co/wj88WBOVT9
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 3, 2021
Featured image: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recovering from the startling events at the Capitol on January 6 (© Reuters – Carlos Barria)
OT/OH
James Tweedie
Originally from London’s Fulham district, James Tweedie is a print and web reporter and occasional commentator on world affairs. He is a former international editor for the Morning Star, and has also worked for RT and The Mail Online among other titles. He has appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, RT’s CrossTalk with Peter Lavelle and Iran’s Press TV. He has lived and worked in South Africa and Spain, and speaks fluent Spanish.
