WASHINGTON – What initially looked like a rare instance of solidarity between Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, quickly turned into a rebuff, with the congresswoman again calling for Cruz to step down in the wake of the deadly January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
It started when Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a condemnation of the Robinhood app making the decision to block stock purchases after a coordinated surge of market by Reddit users.
Cruz retweeted Ocasio-Cortez, adding, “Fully agree.”
Fully agree. 👇 https://t.co/rW38zfLYGh
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 28, 2021
The congresswoman from New York wasn’t having it, though, and in another tweet wrote, “I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where there’s common ground, but you almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago so you can sit this one out. Happy to work w/ almost any other GOP that aren’t trying to get me killed. In the meantime if you want to help, you can resign.”
I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where there’s common ground, but you almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago so you can sit this one out.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 28, 2021
Happy to work w/ almost any other GOP that aren’t trying to get me killed.
In the meantime if you want to help, you can resign. https://t.co/4mVREbaqqm
It wasn’t the first time Ocasio-Cortez has called for Cruz to resign from the U.S. Senate, and she’s not alone.
Cruz continued to support unfounded claims that fraud and irregularities may have cost former President Donald Trump the 2020 election, and prior to the insurrection event at the Capitol and certification of Joe Biden’s presidency, he sought to block that certification. Critics claim that in doing so he helped to incite the violence that took place that day.
Lawmakers including Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro have called for Cruz to step down. Three major Texas newspapers – the El Paso Times, the Houston Chronicle, and the San Antonio Express-News – have done the same.
In a tweet dated January 7, Cruz told Ocasio-Cortez he bears no responsibility for what took place the day prior and has no plans to resign from the Senate.
“@AOC You are a liar. 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,” he wrote.
On Thursday, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, R-21, called on Ocasio-Cortez to apologize to Cruz in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Roy wrote, in part, "If Representative Ocasio-Cortez doesn't apologize immeidately, we will be forced to find alternative means to condemn this regrettable statement."
NEW: @RepChipRoy is calling on @AOC to apologize over her comments earlier today to @SenTedCruz (his old boss).
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 29, 2021
Warning in a letter to Speaker Pelosi that if she doesn't "apologize immediately, we will be forced to find alternative means to condemn this regrettable statement." pic.twitter.com/JFdvaowNZu