Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace feuded on social media over Ocasio-Cortez’s Tuesday arrest in front of the Supreme Court.
Ocasio-Cortez was one of seventeen House Democrats arrested at a pro-abortion rally. Many conservatives claimed that the “Squad” member posed dishonestly to make viewers believe she was handcuffed. Other arrestees included Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley. The members were issued $50 fines for obstructing traffic, the New York Post reported.
“Politics has become performative art. So of course [Ocasio-Cortez] fakes being in handcuffs. Performance, not policy, is the name of the game up here,” Mace tweeted. (RELATED: ‘Jackassery’: Sen. Sasse Calls For No Cameras Inside The Supreme Court)
Ocasio-Cortez defended putting her hands behind her back in response, claiming that “putting your hands behind your back is a best practice while detained, handcuffed or not, to avoid escalating charges like resisting arrest.”
No faking here. Putting your hands behind your back is a best practice while detained, handcuffed or not, to avoid escalating charges like resisting arrest.
But given how you lied about a fellow rape survivor for “points,” as you put it to me, I don’t expect much else from you. pic.twitter.com/lUc1TPS21D
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 20, 2022
In response, Mace shared a video showing Ocasio-Cortez pumping her fist in the air.
“Good theater though,” Mace tweeted.
Idk. Here you are @aoc breaking your fake handcuff pose for a good fist pump and shout out to the crowd – looking “tough”! Good theater though… 💪🤷🏻♀️🥂 https://t.co/0kfihuevYa pic.twitter.com/68rjopkdMi
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) July 20, 2022
Mace and Ocasio-Cortez have repeatedly feuded on social and digital media about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Ocasio-Cortez claimed that rioters banged on her office door, triggering her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a sexual assault. Mace denied the story, noting that the two lawmakers share the same hallway.
Ocasio-Cortez responded by claiming that Mace, a victim of rape, “discredited herself” with the criticism and “minimized” the experiences of sexual assault victims.