Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is sharing why she did not attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo pointed out Biden’s inauguration was supposed to reflect unity and asked Ocasio-Cortez to explain why she was not there.
“I think we also had very real security concerns,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We still don’t yet feel safe around other members of Congress.”
Cuomo asked her how many of her colleagues also do not feel safe.
She answered, “I think a very considerable amount.”
Cuomo pressed her on whether she really believes her colleagues “may really do you dirty.”
Ocasio-Cortez said Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) tried to bring a gun to the House floor.
Watch the video below:
“The moment you bring a gun onto the House floor in violation of rules, you put everyone around you in danger. It is irresponsible, it is reckless, but beyond that it is the violation of rules," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC).
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 22, 2021
pic.twitter.com/XZ6kzKfcjI
Cuomo asked her if there is a possibility he is bringing the gun on the House floor to protect lawmakers from insurrectionists or if she believes there is a chance she “could be the enemy.”
“The moment you bring a gun onto the House floor in violation of rules you put everyone around you in danger,” Ocasio-Cortez explained.
She continued, “It is irresponsible, it is reckless, but beyond that, it is the violation of rules.”
Ocasio-Cortez made it clear she does not “really care” what the intention is behind bringing a gun on the House floor.
According to The Washington Post, while carrying a concealed gun, Harris set off a metal detector near the House chamber.
Harris’s office sent Fox Baltimore a statement on Thursday.
“Because his and his family’s lives have been threatened by someone who has been released awaiting trial, for security reasons, the Congressman never confirms whether he nor anyone else he’s with are carrying a firearm for self-defense,” the statement said.
It added, “As a matter of public record, he has a Maryland Handgun Permit. And the congressman always complies with the House metal detectors and wanding. The Congressman has never carried a firearm on the House floor.”
