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On January 6, a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol, fueled by former President Donald Trump's and the Republican party's lies about the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
At least five people died as a result of the failed insurrection, and the lives of every member of Congress were endangered.
Earlier this week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)—a favorite target of the right due to her progressive policies—gave a deeply personal, detailed account on Instagram Live of her experience at the Capitol that day.
She recounted hiding in the bathroom of her office as a Capitol police officer—who failed to initially identify himself—barged in, shouting "Where is she?" The Congresswoman evacuated to a nearby Capitol office building where she took refuge in the office of Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), where she changed into a pair of sneakers she found in preparation to run for her life.
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the trauma of the experience and the Republican calls to "move on" from the travesty, likening that day to her own experience with sexual assault and the fear of that trauma being dismissed.
Republicans have since pounced on the Congresswoman, scrambling to contradict her story and paint her as a liar.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) was one of those Republicans, tweeting that her office is two doors down from Ocasio-Cortez's and that Mace never felt threatened.
I'm two doors down from @aoc and no insurrectionists stormed our hallway... https://t.co/pAuLh4Vvam https://t.co/xRV4qqY7Qs— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1612443073.0
But Mace's own words in the hours and days immediately following the attack contradict that, as Ocasio-Cortez herself pointed out.
Wild that @NancyMace is discrediting herself less than 1 mo in office w/ such dishonest attacks. She *went on recor… https://t.co/U5UNoVQHsA— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1612455804.0
All I can think of w/ folks like her dishonestly claiming that survivors are exaggerating are the stories of veterans and survivors in my community who deny themselves care they need & deserve bc they internalize voices like hers saying what they went through “wasn't bad enough"
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2021
This is where the true damage of what @NancyMace is doing comes in.
How many survivors are watching her? Who now, seeing her, won't get care or will feel further shame or silence? Who won't speak up bc they know there are voices in leadership ready to minimize their experiences?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2021
How many food workers or custodial workers or Capitol Police officers, who ran for their lives in Longworth or feared for their families in the weeks after the attacks, now think their terror is less valid because of her statements?
Mace's attacks are attacks on them, too.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2021
Mace pushed back against Ocasio-Cortez, but didn't explain the contradiction to statements she made on record.
*FACT CHECK* I have not once discounted your fear. We were ALL terrified that day. I’m stating the fact that in… https://t.co/tLGLsYxkR1— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1612455279.0
But now, in typical @AOC fashion, you’re making this political, even going as far as saying I don’t “hear” victims… https://t.co/6ZjGyweioU— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1612458021.0
Hold up ✋ You seem to be triggered by facts so let me be clear: I have not ONCE discounted your experience. It w… https://t.co/hYGXI062u2— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1612457983.0
Ocasio-Cortez never stated that "insurrectionists stormed our hallways," but that in the chaos of the day, lawmakers weren't sure which areas were compromised.
This is a false “FACT CHECK.” Ocasio-Cortez didn’t say insurrectionists were in their hallway. She said she was gen… https://t.co/rc1eKfPhL1— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1612457715.0
Soon, Mace was inundated with receipts.
Which is it, @NancyMace? https://t.co/LNymTWZVmB— Parker Molloy (@Parker Molloy) 1612449692.0
January 7: https://t.co/zifyYmSyfH— Parker Molloy (@Parker Molloy) 1612450490.0
AOC never said that insurrectionists stormed her hallway. She said she was roughly evacuated by Capitol Police and… https://t.co/pZDRESmCBB— Matthew Chapman (@Matthew Chapman) 1612454292.0
this you? https://t.co/8sJ8qhbglD https://t.co/hAXsHyxjok— manny (@manny) 1612453525.0
I saw her on air 1/6 or 1/7 and thought this particular Republican was actually resolved to tell us what happened.… https://t.co/De74xM45Td— jess mcintosh (@jess mcintosh) 1612462698.0
these ppl truly have no shame https://t.co/ib4OK4ZReV https://t.co/HAOXA4Xdxb— Marlow Stern (@Marlow Stern) 1612451931.0
In her attempts to smear Ocasio-Cortez as a liar, Mace ended up being decried as a liar herself.
Nancy Mace is a liar. And so is anyone who told us she was a moderate. https://t.co/1BkglyY4fU— Adam Parkhomenko (@Adam Parkhomenko) 1612451688.0
@NancyMace @AOC Nancy Mace had potential for about ten seconds, but she’s turned out to just be another House Republican liar.— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1612454128.0
I would just like to point out that @NancyMace is a liar. That's the tweet. https://t.co/iX5d30DWFR— LeoMomma (@LeoMomma) 1612451682.0
At least one Capitol rioter was arrested for his intention to "assassinate AOC."