Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing widespread backlash after calling President Donald Trump a ‘rapist’ on social media, an accusation that has ignited a firestorm of legal and political criticism. The statement, made on X on Friday, came amid ongoing disputes over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, where the financier was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 following charges of child sex trafficking. Ocasio-Cortez’s comment appears to reference the 2023 civil trial against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll, where a jury found Trump liable for sexual assault but not rape. Critics, including legal analysts and Trump supporters, are now calling for legal action against the congresswoman, arguing that her use of the word ‘rapist’ could lead to defamation claims.
Legal analyst Phil Holloway, who has previously commented on the Trump case, tweeted: ‘The President should sue AOC into bankruptcy. I realize she’s trying to raise her profile but this is way way too far.’ This sentiment was echoed by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who noted that under the ‘ridiculously lenient standards of NY Times v. Sullivan,’ Ocasio-Cortez could still face defamation liability. ‘Even under the ridiculously lenient standards of NY Times v. Sullivan, you’ve managed to incur defamation liability,’ Lee wrote on X.
Further criticism came from Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, who implied that the federal government’s failure to release the Epstein files over the past four years was due to ‘covering for Joe Biden’ or ‘another former Democrat President.’ ‘Why didn’t you guys release the Epstein files over the last 4 years? Maybe you were too busy covering for Joe Biden… or, could it have something to do with another former Democrat President?’ Mullin tweeted. This accusation adds to the growing skepticism surrounding the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case and further intensifies the controversy.
The backlash against Ocasio-Cortez also drew attention to the previous case involving George Stephanopoulos, who settled a $15 million defamation lawsuit with Trump after falsely claiming Trump was found ‘liable for rape’ in the Carroll case. Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, said: ‘Well we have grounds for a huge defamation suit here you idiot because Donald Trump has never been indicted for rape much less convicted.’ Similarly, Rachel Alexander, a Townhall contributor, suggested that Ocasio-Cortez’s comments would likely lead to a legal battle, drawing comparisons to the Stephanopoulos case.
Despite the criticism, some supporters of Ocasio-Cortez argued that her use of the word ‘rapist’ was not direct enough to constitute defamation. One commenter stated: ‘AOC did not use Trump’s name in her post, so a defamation case is unlikely.’ However, others, including White House communication director Steven Cheung, have criticized Ocasio-Cortez’s approach, calling her a ‘sad, miserable blockhead’ with a ‘severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.’ Cheung’s remarks, provided to Fox News Digital, reflect the growing partisan divide over the issue.
The controversy has also sparked discussions about the broader implications of political discourse and the legal boundaries of public speech. As the situation unfolds, Ocasio-Cortez’s office has not yet issued a formal response to the mounting criticism, leaving the legal and political ramifications of her comments in limbo. The incident adds to a larger narrative about the increasing polarization in political discourse and the role of social media in shaping public opinion and legal challenges.