New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is under fire after calling President Donald Trump “a rapist” in a Friday post on X, prompting widespread accusations of defamation and calls for a lawsuit.
The congresswoman posted: “Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?”
The comment ignited a firestorm online.
Many pointed out that Trump was never found liable for rape in the civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. In 2023, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, but not rape — a key legal distinction that critics say Ocasio-Cortez deliberately ignored.
“Even under the ridiculously lenient standards of NY Times v. Sullivan, you’ve managed to incur defamation liability. Wow,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on X, referencing the landmark libel case that established a high bar for defamation claims against public figures.
“George Stephanopoulos might advise you to take down this tweet,” another user wrote, alluding to the ABC News host’s own legal troubles over similar remarks about Trump.
Trump last year sued Stephanopoulos and ABC News after the anchor claimed the former president had been “found liable for rape” in an interview with Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. In December 2024, ABC reportedly settled the case for $16 million — including $15 million to Trump’s Presidential Library Foundation and $1 million in legal costs — and publicly apologized for the error. (RELATED: ‘He’s Too Ballless’: Megyn Kelly Torches Stephanopoulos, ABC Over $15 Million Blunder)
Laura Loomer called Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet “defamatory” and encouraged Trump to take similar legal action.
“I hope you are sued by Trump for this the same way George Stephanopoulos was sued and forced to pay Trump $15 million dollars,” Loomer said.
As of Saturday evening, Ocasio-Cortez has not deleted the post or responded to the backlash.
