A tense exchange between Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and conservative journalist Nick Sortor escalated into allegations of physical contact at the United States Capitol.
According to The Western Journal, the New York Democratic Representative claimed Sortor touched her during a filmed confrontation about the illegal immigration crisis, though video evidence appears to contradict her assertion.
The incident unfolded when Sortor approached Ocasio-Cortez to question her about the effects of the southern border crisis on her district and her communication with the Biden administration regarding border solutions. Staff members attempted to block Sortor's path while he persisted in following the congresswoman to ask questions about border-related issues.
Sortor posted footage of the encounter on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday evening, showing him trying to engage with Ocasio-Cortez while navigating around her staff members. The video captures the representative repeatedly stating, "Sir, don't touch me," while Sortor immediately denied any physical contact, emphasizing that he had video proof of the entire interaction.
The confrontation took an official turn when Ocasio-Cortez reportedly contacted the United States Capitol Police following the incident. According to Sortor's social media post, law enforcement officials reviewed the situation and agreed with his assertion that no physical contact occurred.
The journalist maintained his position, describing Ocasio-Cortez as "one of the WORST members of Congress" and criticized her handling of immigration-related issues affecting New York residents.
The heated exchange occurred against the backdrop of growing concerns about violence in New York City's public transit system. Ocasio-Cortez had previously commented on subway safety, specifically regarding the Daniel Penny case.
During a recorded statement last year that resurfaced after Penny's recent acquittal, the congresswoman expressed her views on accountability in the justice system.
She stated:
The point of our justice system is a level of accountability to prevent a person who does not have remorse about taking another person's life. The fact that a person has expressed no remorse indicates a risk that it may happen again, and if we do not want to unleash that level of violence then we should exert a level of accountability to prevent that from happening.
The timing of the confrontation coincided with a recent incident involving an illegal immigrant from Guatemala allegedly setting a woman on fire in a subway car, further intensifying the debate about immigration policies and public safety in New York City.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became embroiled in controversy following her interaction with conservative journalist Nick Sortor at the United States Capitol, where she alleged physical contact during his attempts to question her about immigration policies.
The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, led to Capitol Police involvement, who ultimately found no evidence of physical contact between the parties.
The confrontation has added another layer to the ongoing national debate about border security, immigration policies, and their impact on urban communities, particularly in New York City, where recent violent incidents have heightened public concern.
