NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of Queens and the Bronx, was reportedly called a profanity-laced, misogynistic slur on the steps of the US Capitol Monday by a fellow member of Congress.
According to The Hill, Republican congressman Ted Yoho of Florida accosted the Democratic lawmaker on the steps of the east side of the Capitol and slammed her position on crime and policing. He was heading down the stairs, she was heading up the stairs to vote.
"You are out of your freaking mind," Yoho reportedly said, referring to her belief that crime is rising in NYC because of unemployment, poverty, and "economic desperation" brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. He added that she was "disgusting" for suggesting that.
Ocasio-Cortez told Yoho he was "rude," according to a reporter who overheard the exchange, The Hill reported.
The pair then went on their way -- Ocasio-Cortez headed inside, while Yoho continued to descend down the steps with Rep. Roger Williams.
But after Yoho and Williams made it down a few steps, the reporter overheard Yoho say, "F****** b****."
Yoho communications director Brian Kaveney denied Yoho said the slur, but confirmed the pair had a "brief member to member conversion."
"He did not call Rep. Ocasio-Cortez what has been reported in the Hill or any name for that matter," Kaveney told BuzzFeed. "It sounds better for the Hill newspaper and gets more media attention to say he called her a name - which he did not do."
Bob Cusack, editor in chief of the Hill, told BuzzFeed, "We stand by our story 100 percent."
On Tuesday morning, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, taking a bit of a light-hearted approach to the incident.
"I never spoke to Rep. Yoho before he decided to accost me on the steps of the nation's Capitol yesterday," she wrote. "Believe it or not, I usually get along fine w/ my GOP colleagues. We know how to check our legislative sparring at the committee door. But hey, "b*tches" get stuff done."
