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?”
Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 11, 2025
The comment ignited a firestorm online.
You’ve been in office for over 6 years, and neither you, nor anyone in your party, ever called for Epstein information, until this week.
In fact you all said it was a conspiracy theory.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) July 11, 2025
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.
Even under the ridiculously lenient standards of NY Times v. Sullivan, you’ve managed to incur defamation liability
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) July 12, 2025
“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.
George Stephanopoulos might advise you to take down this tweet. https://t.co/NfmmRvNWUh pic.twitter.com/aKhzDw2ypF
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) July 11, 2025
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.
Donald Trump has not been criminally convicted of being a rapist.
This is defamatory. And I hope you are sued by Trump for this the same way George Stephanopoulos was sued and forced to pay Trump $15 million dollars.
I hope you have millions ready for Trump, Porky. @AOC
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 12, 2025
As of Saturday evening, Ocasio-Cortez has not deleted the post or responded to the backlash.
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