Rep. Anna Paulina Luna took issue with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s criticism regarding violence at a recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. The congresswoman said that her colleague is hypocritical in her stance because she recently shared comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whom Luna accused of inciting violence.
According to Ocasio-Cortez, political violence has no place in the country, and she was happy that Trump and other participants remained unharmed following the attack on the Washington Hilton Hotel, which saw nearly 2,500 people attend the dinner.
Luna responded by pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez recently shared quotes from Jeffries, who she said calls for total warfare everywhere. “You literally just reposted Hakeem Jeffries quote calling for ‘total warfare everywhere’ only a days ago,” Luna tweeted. “Start being responsible with your platform instead of calling for violence.”
She also asked Jeffries for an apology. “Hakeem Jeffries called for violence and warfare only a few days ago. He needs to publicly apologize,” the lawmaker tweeted.
The comments referred to by Luna were made in an April 22nd press release by Jeffries, who, as House Democratic leader, called Republicans’ actions concerning redistricting “warfare” and said that the people of America will end the Republicans’ “redistricting war.”
He also recently used “warfare” language to protest Republican priorities, such as healthcare, not warfare, in ongoing debates, according to reports.
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks came after a violent situation outside the dinner, which involved a man named Cole Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, breaching a security checkpoint and opening fire with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives.
While firing at law enforcement agents, one Secret Service member was hit. However, due to wearing a bulletproof vest, the man did not sustain any injuries. Allen was arrested soon after, and there are no indications of his having any accomplices or being after anyone else but the Trump administration.
Both Trump and his wife, Melania, were evacuated to a safe place, as this was their first time attending the event since taking office again.
