Donald Trump Jr. on Friday shared a meme on Instagram showing the difference between socialism and capitalism. Naturally, the picture he chose featured member-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic Socialist darling from New York.
Apparently Ocasio-Cortez didn't like what was said because she threatened Trump Jr.
I have noticed that Junior here has a habit of posting nonsense about me whenever the Mueller investigation heats up.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 7, 2018
Please, keep it coming Jr - it’s definitely a “very, very large brain” idea to troll a member of a body that will have subpoena power in a month.
Have fun! https://t.co/oQ6MsdJYCk
The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis put Ocasio-Cortez in check by reminding her that threatening Trump Jr. violates House Ethics. Imagine that! She's violating ethics before she even gets to Washington, D.C.!
Are you threatening to use your power as a federal official to subpoena anyone who mocks or otherwise disagrees with you on the Internet? https://t.co/6Ymzqb2Y6Y
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
It's worth noting that the official House Ethics Manual explicitly prohibits the kind of threat that @Ocasio2018 just issued against @DonaldJTrumpJr for his refusal to support her political agenda. https://t.co/rJ83EeZXGY
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
"Members...are not to take or withhold any official action on the
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
basis of the campaign contributions or support of the involved individuals, or their partisan affiliation. Members...are likewise prohibited from threatening
punitive action on the basis of such considerations."
The House prohibition on the very kind of threat that @Ocasio2018 just made to @DonaldTrumpJr couldn't be clearer: lawmakers are "prohibited from threatening punitive action" against people/groups for not politically supporting the lawmaker. Ethics Committee should investigate. pic.twitter.com/NNIPp1vsyv
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 7, 2018
Trump Jr.'s girlfriend and former Fox News Channel host Kimberly Guilfoyle, also jumped into the mix:
Did you just threaten to subpoena someone for criticizing you? As a lawyer and former prosecutor I find this deeply troubling. https://t.co/OqIpBkbsIS
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) December 7, 2018
As did others:
Sorry, did this fool just threaten to use the power of government to punish a citizen because he posted a meme? https://t.co/gnlpGAAiKs
— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) December 7, 2018
I tend to be nice about you and defend you from silly attacks quite a bit, but I also found it concerning and threatening. In fact, I don’t see how what you expressed could be taken any differently than someone threatening to abuse their power. https://t.co/oZLaSt5CzP
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) December 7, 2018
I just want to be clear:
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) December 7, 2018
Did a member-elect of Congress just threaten a private citizen with a subpoena over a meme?
There is no way in hell that this can be legal.
Is @Ocasio2018 emotionally stable enough for Congress? https://t.co/np59DrTgq2
Going to threaten him with an illegal subpoena as well @Ocasio2018?
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) December 8, 2018
If you want this job, you'd better grow much thicker skin ASAP. https://t.co/CaZl5yMrE4
After receiving backlash, Ocasio-Cortez decided to clarify what he meant:
For the GOP crying that this is a “threat” - I don’t have power to subpoena anybody.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 7, 2018
Congress as a body, GOP included, has the power. No indiv. member can issue a subpoena unless they are a Chair (which, as a freshman, I can assure you I will not be). Also must be under purview.
Now is probably a good time for you to step away from social media, Alexandria. Your communications director is going to hate handling your PR blowback (as if anymore could come your way).