Critics call for lawsuit following social media post, drawing parallels to ABC’s $15M settlement with Trump
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is facing mounting criticism and legal threats after referring to former President Donald Trump as a “rapist” in a recent social media post, with critics accusing the congresswoman of defamation and urging Trump to take legal action.
The remark came amid renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019.
“Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?” Ocasio-Cortez posted on X Friday.
Critics quickly responded, pointing out that Trump was not found guilty of rape. A 2023 civil jury held Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in the case brought by E. Jean Carroll, but explicitly did not find him liable for rape.
Legal Experts, Lawmakers React
The post drew sharp rebukes from conservatives and legal commentators. Some cited the recent $15 million settlement between Trump and ABC News, following George Stephanopoulos’ repeated claims that Trump had been found liable for rape.
“The President should sue AOC into bankruptcy,” legal analyst Phil Holloway wrote on X. “This is way, way too far.”
“Even under the lenient standards of New York Times v. Sullivan, you’ve managed to incur defamation liability. Wow,” added Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
“Well, we have grounds for a huge defamation suit here,” commentator Bill Mitchell posted. “Donald Trump has never been indicted for rape, much less convicted.”
“I hope you have millions ready for Trump,” wrote political activist Laura Loomer. “This is defamatory.”
Some critics also questioned why Ocasio-Cortez didn’t mention Trump by name in her post, with others suggesting that omission may not be enough to avoid legal risk.
Echoes of Stephanopoulos Controversy
Many pointed to ABC’s settlement with Trump earlier this year, in which the network and George Stephanopoulos issued a retraction and paid Trump $15 million over similar comments made in a March 2024 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
Stephanopoulos claimed during the segment that “judges and two separate juries” had found Trump liable for rape—remarks that later became the subject of a defamation lawsuit settled out of court.
“ABC and George Stephanopoulos regret statements made during the interview,” the network stated in an official editor’s note published after the settlement.
Ocasio-Cortez’s Office Silent
Fox News Digital reached out to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment but has not yet received a response.
Meanwhile, some social media users defended the congresswoman, arguing she did not explicitly name Trump in her post and suggesting the legal bar for a defamation suit remains high.
Trump Allies Blast Ocasio-Cortez
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung weighed in with a personal attack on the congresswoman, calling her statement “desperate” and “deranged.”
“She’s just a sad, miserable blockhead trying to overcompensate,” Cheung said in a statement to Fox News. “Instead, she should get serious help for her obvious and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted her pea-sized brain.”
As of Sunday afternoon, Trump has not publicly commented on whether he intends to pursue legal action over the post.
