GOP Rep. Tried to Contradict AOC's Account of Capitol Attack—and People Instantly Brought Receipts

On January 6, a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol, fueled by former President Donald Trump's and the Republican party's lies about the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

At least five people died as a result of the failed insurrection, and the lives of every member of Congress were endangered.

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)—a favorite target of the right due to her progressive policies—gave a deeply personal, detailed account on Instagram Live of her experience at the Capitol that day.

She recounted hiding in the bathroom of her office as a Capitol police officer—who failed to initially identify himself—barged in, shouting "Where is she?" The Congresswoman evacuated to a nearby Capitol office building where she took refuge in the office of Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), where she changed into a pair of sneakers she found in preparation to run for her life.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the trauma of the experience and the Republican calls to "move on" from the travesty, likening that day to her own experience with sexual assault and the fear of that trauma being dismissed.

Republicans have since pounced on the Congresswoman, scrambling to contradict her story and paint her as a liar.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) was one of those Republicans, tweeting that her office is two doors down from Ocasio-Cortez's and that Mace never felt threatened.

But Mace's own words in the hours and days immediately following the attack contradict that, as Ocasio-Cortez herself pointed out.

Mace pushed back against Ocasio-Cortez, but didn't explain the contradiction to statements she made on record.

Ocasio-Cortez never stated that "insurrectionists stormed our hallways," but that in the chaos of the day, lawmakers weren't sure which areas were compromised.

Soon, Mace was inundated with receipts.

In her attempts to smear Ocasio-Cortez as a liar, Mace ended up being decried as a liar herself.

At least one Capitol rioter was arrested for his intention to "assassinate AOC."