Radical Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has declared, on the congressional record, that “RICO is not a crime.”
The comment has led to calls for Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to drop her case against President Donald Trump.
Willis has hit Trump and 18 co-defendants with federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges.
Ocasio-Cortez made the comment while grilling Hunter Biden’s ex-associate-turned-whistelblower Tony Bobulinski during a heated exchange at an impeachment hearing on Wednesday.
The congresswoman demanded that Bobulinski, who was called as a witness and not a prosecutor, explain “exactly” what crimes Democrat President Biden is guilty of committing.
“Is it your testimony today that you personally witnessed President Joe Biden commit a crime?” AOC yelled while aggressively staring down Bobulinski.
However, before Bobulinski could even answer, he was cut off by the animated progressive representative.
Instead of letting him answer, she interrupted by repeating the same question to him.
“How much time do I have to go through it?” Bobulinski shot back.
He then started listing off a number of crimes and alleging the president committed a RICO violation.
He tried to explain that President Biden was involved in financial corruption regarding his business dealings with his son Hunter.
RICO charges target dishonest business activities such as money laundering as well as organized crime.
“What is the crime sir, specifically,” AOC demanded, interrupting the witness again.
“You asked me to answer the question,” Bobulinski replied.
“I answered the question.
“RICO, you’re obviously not familiar with. Corruption statutes. FARA…” he tried to state before being cut off again.
“Excuse me, sir,” AOC defiantly exclaimed.
“Excuse me, sir. RICO is not a crime. It is a category.”
“It’s a category of crimes that you are then charged under,” Bobulinski said before AOC began talking over him.
“It’s funny, in this committee room — everyone’s not here — there are over 18 lawyers that went to law school,” Bobulinski fired back.
“I’ll leave it up to you guys to define the statute,” he added before being interrupted again.
AOC continued to talk over Bobulinski, yelling “I reclaim my time!” as he tried to speak.
She then went on to scold Republicans over the impeachment inquiry.
She accused the GOP-led House committee of spending 15 months “lost in the desert” without proof that President Biden committed “a high crime or misdemeanor.”
WATCH:
AOC’s claim that RICO is not a crime quickly became a hot topic on social media.
Republicans shredded the congresswoman for her comment.
“And, of course… AOC’s favorite network has her back after she completely and totally embarrassed herself by arguing that RICO is not a crime,” Fox News contributor Joe Concha wrote in a post on X.
“AOC broken in Hunter Biden hearing,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) wrote on X.
“So broken in fact, she claims RICO isn’t a crime.
“Well… empty the jails! Oh and for the record, all the defendants in the Georgia case brought by Fani Willis falls under RICO. Ooops.”
“This is bizarre,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated.
“RICO—the Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968—is most assuredly a crime.
“It often results in massive felony sentences. And yet [AOC] —eager to defend Joe Biden—insists it’s not a crime.”
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee took to X to disprove AOC’s claim, writing:
“(HINT: RICO is a federal law codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-68).”
Rep. AOC asks Tony Bobulinski to list the crimes he witnessed Joe Biden commit.
Tony Bobulinski lists the crimes: corruption statutes, RICO, conspiracy, FARA.
AOC then says RICO is not a crime.🤦
(HINT: RICO is a federal law codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-68) pic.twitter.com/HCNsSkgCjg
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) March 20, 2024
X was also flooded with posts calling for Fani Willis to drop her RICO case against Trump.
If RICO is not a crime, according to the great legal scholar AOC – then Fani Willis must dismiss all RICO charges.
— Eric Matheny 🎙️ (@ericmmatheny) March 21, 2024
President Trump currently faces a weaponized RICO case in Georgia over the 2020 election.
Elsewhere during his testimony, Bobulinski criticized the president’s son for “running away” from the American people after he declined to appear for the congressional hearing.
Bobulinski has also previously testified that President Biden “enabled” Hunter Biden to sell access to America’s “most dangerous adversaries,” including China and Russia.
In his statement, Hunter Biden’s former business partner called for “truth and transparency” to prevail, saying:
“Joe Biden and Hunter Biden, along with countless members of Congress, keep claiming that they are ‘fighting for our Democracy.’
“Why don’t we as a nation agree to fight for the truth?
“Nearly three-quarters of the American people believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and I can’t blame them.
“Truth and transparency would help expose the rot at the center of our political system and begin to fix what ails us.”
President Biden has continued to ask Congress to close the impeachment investigation and denied allegations of any wrongdoing.
