Former Democrat Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for pretending to be handcuffed during her viral “perp walk.”
President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence for corruption.
“How do you properly thank someone who’s given you back the freedom that was stolen from you?” Blagojevich said at the time.
“Doing this does nothing to help his politics.”
“President Trump is a man who is tough and outspoken, but he also has a kind heart.
“And this is an act of kindness and I believe it’s the beginning of a process that — to actually turn an injustice into a justice,” he added.
AOC was widely mocked for holding her arms behind her back to appear as though she was handcuffed while being escorted by police at a Washington D.C. Supreme Court protest.
“AOC pretends to be handcuffed,” Blagojevich said on Twitter along with a photo of his mugshot.
“At least when I get arrested, I get arrested for real!”
AOC pretends to be handcuffed. At least when I get arrested, I get arrested for real! pic.twitter.com/kuwjpp0g5v
— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) July 21, 2022
AOC was ticketed by Capitol Police along with other members of Congress, including Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Carolyn Maloney.
As Slay News previously reported, Ilhan Omar also appeared to fake being handcuffed.
They wore specially-made green bandanas that said “Won’t Back Down” and marched from the Capitol to the Supreme Court.
Within minutes they were ordered to “cease and desist” as they chanted, “the people, united, will never be divided.”
The US Capitol Police said at the time: “Demonstrators are starting to block First Street, NE. It is against the law to block traffic, so officers are going to give our standard three warnings before they start making arrests.”
Andrew Solender from Axios reported:
“Multiple members of Congress, including @AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in abortion rights demonstration.
“The group also includes the assistant House speaker, Katherine Clark.
“Members arrested: Dean, Velasquez, Lee, Speier, Clark, Jacobs, Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Andy Levin, Carolyn Maloney, Adams, Watson Coleman, Escobar, Bush, Schakowsky, Omar & Pressley.”
Multiple members of Congress, including @AOC, being arrested by Capitol Police for blocking traffic outside the Supreme Court in abortion rights demonstration: pic.twitter.com/fysQN1oBAw
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 19, 2022
U.S. Capitol Police said:
“We made a total of 34 arrests for Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding (DC Code § 22–1307).
“That arrest number includes 16 Members of Congress.”
CNN reported the below were among the “arrested”:
- Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark of Massachusetts
- Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts
- Barbara Lee of California
- Jackie Speier of California
- Sara Jacobs of California
- Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
- Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
- Andy Levin of Michigan
- Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
- Jan Schakowsky of Illinois
- Madeline Dean of Pennsylvania
- Cori Bush of Missouri
- Carolyn Maloney of New York
- Nydia Velazquez of New York
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
- Alma Adams of North Carolina
While many of the lawmakers glorified their “arrests” on social media, they failed to mention that they were not taken into custody by police.
In fact, their “arrests” were more like parking fines.
They were cited on the spot, given a $50 fine, and walked away.
