Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has made no secret of her animosity toward Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Just a few weeks ago Greene mocked Ocasio-Cortez as she challenged her to a debate on the Green New Deal. Now, The Washington Post reports that Greene escalated things Wednesday night as she and AOC walked out of the House Chamber Wednesday night.
Two Washington Post reporters witnessed Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) exit the House chamber late Wednesday afternoon ahead of Greene (Ga.), who shouted “Hey Alexandria” twice in an effort to get her attention. When Ocasio-Cortez did not stop walking, Greene picked up her pace and began shouting at her and asking why she supports antifa, a loosely knit group of far-left activists, and Black Lives Matter, falsely labeling them “terrorist” groups. Greene also shouted that Ocasio-Cortez was failing to defend her “radical socialist” beliefs by declining to publicly debate the freshman from Georgia.
Marianna Sotomayor was among the reporters who witnessed the encounter firsthand. She writes, “Ocasio-Cortez did not stop to answer Greene, only turning around once and throwing her hands in the air in an exasperated motion.” She told CNN she has never seen a Congressperson confront someone in this manner, “Just seeing the moment play out was pretty shocking… It’s not something you see every day or every week or every month. It really does speak to the polarization that exists and the tensions between both parties, Republicans, and Democrats.”
The Washington Post cites a statement from Ocasio-Cortez spokeswoman Lauren Hitt:
“Representative Greene tried to begin an argument with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and when Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tried to walk away, Congresswoman Greene began screaming and called Rep. Ocasio-Cortez a terrorist sympathizer… We hope leadership and the Sergeant at Arms will take real steps to make Congress a safe, civil place for all Members and staff — especially as many offices are discussing reopening. One Member has already been forced to relocate her office due to Congresswoman Greene’s attacks.”
On Friday morning, CNN’s K-File uncovered since-deleted video that shows Greene causing a scene in front of Ocasio-Cortez’s office in 2019 – before Greene was elected to office. From CNN:
During a February 2019 visit to congressional offices at the US Capitol with associates who include a man who would later enter the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, Greene — then a conservative activist — can be seen taunting Ocasio-Cortez’s staff outside the congresswoman’s locked office by talking through a mailbox slot urging her to come out.
In the video, from a since-deleted Facebook Live of Greene’s that was saved by CNN’s KFile, Greene tells Ocasio-Cortez to “get rid of your diaper,” referring to the congresswoman’s office as a “day care.” Greene repeatedly indicates throughout her stream that security has been called on them.”
We’re going to go see, we’re going to visit, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Crazy eyes. Crazy eyes. Nutty. Cortez,” Greene says to the camera on the way to the congresswoman’s office, mispronouncing “Ocasio.”