AOC Faces Legal Risk Over Trump 'Rapist' Remark

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced widespread backlash after calling former President Donald Trump a 'rapist' in a viral social media post that criticized the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and linked Trump’s presidency to delays in releasing related records. Trump supporters and legal experts accused Ocasio-Cortez of defamation, noting Trump has not been criminally convicted of rape, though a civil jury found him liable for sexual abuse in the E. Jean Carroll case. Comparisons were made to the $15 million defamation settlement paid by ABC News and George Stephanopoulos to Trump for similar statements. Some suggested Ocasio-Cortez could face similar legal risks. The controversy reignited debates over the Department of Justice's closure of the Epstein case, the absence of a 'client list,' and allegations of political hypocrisy. The incident underscores deepening political polarization and the potential legal consequences of incendiary rhetoric online.