New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trolled House Republicans after they claimed the ongoing hearings into the events of January 6, 2021—the day former President Donald Trump's supporters attacked the United States Capitol on the false premise the 2020 general was stolen—are little more than "old news."
After the House Judiciary Committee's official Twitter account tweeted as such, Ocasio-Cortez demanded the committee take time "reminding us which of your members sought pardons after the attack."
\u201cOh, so if it\u2019s old news surely you wouldn\u2019t mind reminding us which of your members sought pardons after the attack \ud83c\udfa4\u2026 So who were they?\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1654831032
She mentioned specific names, including Representatives Andrew Clyde and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Matt Gaetz (Florida), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Lauren Boebert (Colorado) and Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), all of whom have continued to back the false and disproven narrative the 2020 election was stolen despite their own wins in that same election.
\u201cWas it Clyde? Gosar? Gaetz? Jordan? Boebert? Greene? Others? Please remind us @HouseGOP - which of your current sitting members sought pardons after the attack?\n\nIn addition to @RepScottPerry of course\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1654831032
And after Representative Jordan attempted to deflect attention from the hearing to complain about "record crime in Democrat-run cities," Ocasio-Cortez pointed out seven of the 10 "deadliest cities in America" are, in fact, run by Republican administrations.
\u201cAccording to CBS News out of the Top 10 deadliest cities in America, 7 of them are in Republican-run states.\n\nNow, follow-up question: were you one of the members who sought a pardon after Jan 6th? I didn\u2019t.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1654834843
Many have backed Ocasio-Cortez, and echoed their criticisms of Republicans who have continued to downplay the events of the day.
The Capitol riot ultimately resulted in at least five deaths, including a Capitol Police Officer who suffered a stroke at the hospital after sustaining injuries during the attack.
The insurrection was characterized, at least in part, by insurrectionists' heavy clashes with law enforcement. Over 100 injuries were reported by police and millions of dollars of damages recorded.
\u201cSo when will they name these traitors?\n\nShouldn't it be a crime to conceal this information from the voters?\n\n#PardonMe\u201d— Bombadil Frumblesnatch (@Bombadil Frumblesnatch) 1654868862
\u201c@JudiciaryGOP Well? Any answer?\u201d— Donald Miller (@Donald Miller) 1654869597
\u201cName. Those. Tools.\u201d— Rocky Macy (@Rocky Macy) 1654848717
\u201cAlso, \u201call old news\u201d implies incredible culpability.\u201d— Manu vedapudi (@Manu vedapudi) 1654857038
\u201cWe need to know.\u201d— Eileen (@Eileen) 1654863424
\u201cAnd precisely WHY did they need pardons? "Who" not enough.\u201d— Cheryl McGill (@Cheryl McGill) 1654866617
\u201cYes, I would like to know too!!!\u201d— M Forte (@M Forte) 1654866681
\u201cI imagine the committee has the names.\u201d— marleah knapp (@marleah knapp) 1654859424
During the first of the hearings into the attack, Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney, who serves as the committee's Vice-Chair, alleged in her opening statement several Republican members of the House sought pardons to absolve them of tampering in the election.
Cheney only mentioned one by name–Perry–but said multiple "Republican Congressmen also sought presidential pardons for their roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 election," an admission that sparked considerable discussion among those viewing the hearings about the extent of the ruse.
