Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has come under fire for potential ethics violations after she threatened Donald Trump Jr. because he made fun of her.
The New York Democratic socialist took offense to a meme posted by President Donald Trump’s son and called him out in a tweet threatening to use the “subpoena power” of Congress against him.
Trump Jr. mocked the freshman lawmaker on his Instagram account with a popular meme that, in this case, seemed to imply that her socialist views would result in Americans eating dogs out of starvation.
“It’s funny cuz it’s true!!!” the caption on the post read.
Ocasio-Cortez fired off in a tweet responding to The Washington Post’s coverage of the meme.
I have noticed that Junior here has a habit of posting nonsense about me whenever the Mueller investigation heats up.
Please, keep it coming Jr – it’s definitely a “very, very large brain” idea to troll a member of a body that will have subpoena power in a month.
Have fun! https://t.co/oQ6MsdJYCk
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 7, 2018
But her reaction and implication that she would use her Congressional power against Trump Jr. sparked immediate reaction on Twitter where users questioned her intentions.
Are you threatening to use your power as a federal official to subpoena anyone who mocks or otherwise disagrees with you on the Internet? https://t.co/6Ymzqb2Y6Y
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
Former Fox News host and current girlfriend of Trump Jr., Kimberley Guilfoyle, found the young congresswoman’s tweet “deeply troubling.”
Did you just threaten to subpoena someone for criticizing you? As a lawyer and former prosecutor I find this deeply troubling. https://t.co/OqIpBkbsIS
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) December 7, 2018
Even those defending Ocasio-Cortez in the past admitted her words could only be taken as a threat.
I tend to be nice about you and defend you from silly attacks quite a bit, but I also found it concerning and threatening. In fact, I don’t see how what you expressed could be taken any differently than someone threatening to abuse their power. https://t.co/oZLaSt5CzP
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) December 7, 2018
Sorry, did this fool just threaten to use the power of government to punish a citizen because he posted a meme? https://t.co/gnlpGAAiKs
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) December 7, 2018
The Federalist’s Sean Davis cited the House Ethics Manual and detailed how Ocasio-Cortez just violated statutes that state members of Congress are “prohibited from threatening” anyone.
It’s worth noting that the official House Ethics Manual explicitly prohibits the kind of threat that @Ocasio2018 just issued against @DonaldJTrumpJr for his refusal to support her political agenda. https://t.co/rJ83EeZXGY
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
“Members…are not to take or withhold any official action on the
basis of the campaign contributions or support of the involved individuals, or their partisan affiliation. Members…are likewise prohibited from threatening
punitive action on the basis of such considerations.”— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
“Ethics Committee should investigate,” Davis concluded, citing the stipulation that lawmakers are “prohibited from threatening punitive action” against those who disagree with them.
The House prohibition on the very kind of threat that @Ocasio2018 just made to @DonaldTrumpJr couldn’t be clearer: lawmakers are “prohibited from threatening punitive action” against people/groups for not politically supporting the lawmaker. Ethics Committee should investigate. pic.twitter.com/NNIPp1vsyv
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
Ocasio-Cortez soon responded to the fallout and “the GOP crying that this is a ‘threat,” tweeting that “I don’t have power to subpoena anybody.”
For the GOP crying that this is a “threat” – I don’t have power to subpoena anybody.
Congress as a body, GOP included, has the power. No indiv. member can issue a subpoena unless they are a Chair (which, as a freshman, I can assure you I will not be). Also must be under purview.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 7, 2018
But the 29-year-old, who has yet to even be sworn into office, was shown no mercy for her threatening tweet and her smug response to criticism.
So you stalk @DonaldJTrumpJr on Twitter and are now threatening to abuse Congressional subpoena power for a personal vendetta if he continues to point out the stupid things you say? How very progressive. https://t.co/y83M83NH55
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) December 7, 2018
I like how she thinks SHE is gonna have subpoena power. Mmhmm.
— Doug Stafford (@dougstafford) December 7, 2018
If a member of congress threatens a private citizen with subpoena power over being trolled on twitter and our media ignores it, does it actually happen?
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 7, 2018
This girl us already on a power trip. The Dems deserve her
— Deplorable Me (@VerdinTressa) December 8, 2018
Imagine if Trump threatened a private citizen with his official powers because the person trolled him on Twitter. https://t.co/HoJUiYbgLD
— German Lopez (@germanrlopez) December 7, 2018
So, um, if he trolls you on media, then you’re going to use the power of the government to come after him? That’s not fascist or anything. https://t.co/82hOJp39Ua
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 7, 2018
My dislike for Jr is well-documented, but threatening a private citizen with a Congressional subpoena because he made a meme you don’t like is one hell of a hot take. https://t.co/urxbAaSIbA
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 7, 2018
Is threatening a private citizen with a subpoena because he hurt your feelings not the very “corruption” you ran against?
Silly, Alexandria. https://t.co/Q8IbRsi3qS
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) December 7, 2018
You just threatened to abuse your power because a private citizen posted a meme. This won’t be forgotten. Apology please. https://t.co/TAzpquylgN
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 7, 2018
You’ll make a great Democrat lawmaker! Dumb as a rock, thin-skinned and a complete thug! You’ll fit right in. https://t.co/SWslPweMwI
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) December 7, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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