AOC calls for Ted Cruz to resign following Capitol riots

The Saturday before the riot, Cruz said he would spearhead a drive by nearly a dozen Republican senators to challenge Biden’s victory at the Electoral College vote confirmation event on January 6.

By ZACHARY KEYSER
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is seen at a census outreach event ahead of the census deadline in The Bronx, New York City, US September 19, 2020 (photo credit: ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS)
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is seen at a census outreach event ahead of the census deadline in The Bronx, New York City, US September 19, 2020
(photo credit: ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS)
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for the resignation of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz after rioters stormed the US Capitol building in support of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a harrowing assault on US democracy.
The Saturday before the riot, Cruz said he would spearhead a drive by nearly a dozen Republican senators to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory when Electoral College results were to be tallied in Congress on January 6 – a largely symbolic move that supposedly had virtually no chance of preventing Biden from taking office.
Democrat AOC personally called out Cruz after the senator's office released a statement denouncing the Capitol rioters. The NY representative blamed Cruz's "craven, self-serving actions" for contributing "to the deaths of four people" on Wednesday - a toll later increased to five, after a US Capitol police officer was pronounced dead on Thursday, after succumbing to injuries sustained while policing the riot.
"Sen. Cruz, you must accept responsibility for how your craven, self-serving actions contributed to the deaths of four people yesterday. And how you fundraised off this riot," AOC said on Twitter. "Both you and Senator [Josh] Hawley [R-Missouri] must resign. If you do not, the Senate should move for your expulsion."

Cruz responded by calling AOC a "liar," claiming that it was his job to contest the election results, amid unfounded allegations by the outgoing president that the election was "stolen," and despite weeks of legal battles where he has not presented any significant evidence whatsoever to prove his claims that Americans were robbed of a free and fair election.
"Leading a debate in the Senate on ensuring election integrity is doing our jobs, and it’s in no way responsible for the despicable terrorists who attacked the Capitol yesterday. And sorry, I ain’t going anywhere." Cruz tweeted in response.
"When you and your socialist buddies try to massively raise taxes, when you try to pass the green new deal and destroy millions of jobs, when you push for amnesty, when you try to pack the Supreme Court with activists to undermine our Constitutional rights... I will fight that every step and stand with the People."

AOC responded with a screenshot of a mass text message from Cruz asking for donations and support to move forward with his plan to "reject electors from key states," asking those to "stand with him," hours after the rioters besieged the Capitol building.

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"Oh - you’re accusing me of lying? Isn’t this you? Your campaign sent out this fundraising message as people were sieging the Capitol. You claimed to be 'leading the fight to reject electors,'" she said. "Clashes started around 1:20pm. This message was sent after the Capitol was breached."

Cruz rebutted by claiming it was an automated campaign message, and after it was sent out he reprimanded his team and instructed them to stop fundraising.

"Your complete refusal to acknowledge any of the above harm, wrongdoing, or even misjudgement; and your lack of any self-reflection in how these acts contributed to yesterday’s chaos is alarming," AOC said in response. "It is unbecoming of any elected official and makes you unfit for the office you occupy."
"Resign," she concluded.
Earlier in the day, AOC denounced Cruz's defense of the mob that laid siege to the Capitol building – the first to do so since the British in the War of 1812 – when the senator responded to Biden's statement following the insurrection claiming that "at a time of deep national division, President-elect Biden’s choice to call his political opponents literal Nazis does nothing to bring us together or promote healing."  
"They wore Auschwitz shirts, erected gallows, and tried to hang the Vice President," AOC tweeted, calling out the antisemitic rhetoric and violent intentions. "Your continued excusal and denial of Wednesday’s Neo-Nazi presence is abhorrent and dangerous."
"The most healing and unifying thing *you* can do is take responsibility for your actions and resign."

"Your GOP colleague in the House praised Hitler this week," AOC added. She noted another antisemitic incident, saying that: "A Confederate flag was hung outside the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Yet you continue to deny this clear connection in the aftermath of Wednesday’s violence."
Once again publicly calling for Cruz to step down, AOC told the senator: "You disgrace yourself and your office further every day. Resign."

Cruz responded by calling AOC and her group of Democratic colleagues anti-Israel, claiming they worked towards blocking a resolution on antisemitism that passed through Congress earlier this year.
"Epic hypocrisy. Facts: 1) Nazis are evil bigots. 2) You & your anti-Israel pals blocked a resolution condemning antisemitism—which I passed unanimously in the Senate. 3) Unless they are genocidal, calling your political opponents Nazis is atrocious," Cruz said.
AOC rebuked his claims, presenting clerk records to show she "proudly" voted for the resolution to pass, signing off by stating that the senator's allegations are unhinged in reality.
"Your statements are growing increasingly erratic and unfounded in fact," she concluded. "I do not call all my opponents Nazis. But rest assured, neo-Nazis are my opponents."



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