AOC slams Republicans for abortion panel witness, saying their constituents deserve an apology
During a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on abortion rights and access, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., criticized witness Dr. Ingrid Skop and the Republican committee members who called her to the panel for asserting that a Texas abortion law gives women who are raped enough time to get an abortion before a six-week deadline.
Video Transcript
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: I need to correct and address in assertion that was made not too long ago-- this idea, this myth that, first of all, that this law, SB-8, provides ample time for a victim of abuse to seek abortion care. Because, once again, we're in a room of legislators who are attempting to legislate reproductive systems that they know nothing about. Six weeks pregnant-- and it's shameful that this education even needs to happen because this conversation shouldn't even be held in a legislative body-- six weeks pregnant is two weeks late for one's period.
When you are raped, you don't always know what happened to you. You are-- and I speak about this as a survivor-- you are in so much shock-- and by the way, people who commit abuse and victims and survivors of sexual assault are overwhelmingly assaulted by someone they know. And this myth that it's some person lurking on a street or in a parking lot waiting to sexually assault you, that myth only benefits the abusers in power that want you to think that that's how it happens. It's your friend, it's a boyfriend, it's a boss, it's a legislator.
You are in so much shock at what happened to you, sometimes it takes years to realize what actually went on. So this idea that victims know in the two weeks that they might be late for their period-- I'm 115-- 15 I'm 115 pounds. You look at me funny I'm two weeks late for my period, and you're supposed to expect me to know that I'm pregnant, or the stress of a sexual assault-- that makes you two weeks late for your period, whether you're pregnant or not.
Unbelievable. Unbelievable that the Republican side would call a witness so irresponsible and hurtful to survivors across this country-- honestly. Deserve your constituents an apology.
