AOC zinged for calling RICO ‘not a crime’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was mocked online after she claimed “RICO is not a crime” during a heated exchange Wednesday with President Biden impeachment-hearing witness Tony Bobulinski.
Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) asked Bobulinski, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, whether he witnessed “the president commit a crime,” seeking to rebuff GOP narratives about the Biden family during the second public impeachment probe hearing.
“How much time do I have to go through it,” Bobulinski shot back before listing off several items such as “corruption statutes, RICO and conspiracy, [Foreign Agents Registration Act].”
“What is the crime, sir, specifically,” the progressive darling pressed again.
“You asked me to answer the question. I answered the question. RICO, you’re obviously not familiar with. Corruption statutes. FARA,” Bobulinski replied.
“Excuse me, sir, RICO is not a crime. It is a category,” OcasioCortez interjected in a somewhat condescending tone.
RICO refers to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which targets dishonest business activities such as money laundering as well as organized crime.
Former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen of his allies were charged in a sprawling racketeering case out of Fulton County last August over alleged 2020 Georgia election tampering.
“Oh, no, it’s a category of crime that you are then charged with,” Bobulinski rebutted.
Netizens quickly roasted Ocasio-Cortez over the exchange.
“And, of course . . . AOC’s favorite network has her back after she completely and totally embarrassed herself by arguing that RICO is not a crime,” media columnist Joe Concha said.