AOC Challenges Ted Cruz on RICO Meaning

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood her ground after being challenged by GOP Senator Ted Cruz on the meaning of Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) charges.

Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, sparked questions over the definition of RICO during Wednesday's congressional hearing on the House's impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The inquiry, which has been overseen by Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer stems from accusations that Biden profited off his son's business dealings while serving as vice president. The months-long investigation has yet to produce any evidence that the president was ever directly involved in his family's business endeavors.

While questioning Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden business partner and a witness invited by House Republicans to the hearing this week, Ocasio-Cortez asked him to specifically name crimes that he had witnessed Biden commit. Bobulinski responded that Biden had violated the RICO Act, a federal anti-racketeering or anti-corruption law that can be used against persons engaged in organized crime. Several states, including Georgia, have adopted their own version of the law.

"Excuse me, sir, RICO is not a crime, it is a category. What is the crime?" Ocasio-Cortez interrupted Bobulinski during the heated exchange.

The moment from the hearing attracted the attention of Cruz, a Texas Republican, who said on X (formerly Twitter) early Thursday morning that Ocasio-Cortez's comments were "bizarre."

"RICO—the Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968—is most assuredly a crime," Cruz wrote. "It often results in massive felony sentences. And yet @aoc—eager to defend Joe Biden—insists it's not a crime."

Ocasio-Cortez responded to Cruz's post later on Thursday, writing: "Wrong! RICO is a statute under which specific crimes may be considered - kidnapping, robbery, arson, etc."

She went on: "You need to name the crimes in order to substantiate RICO," she added. "So...since you're the expert, what RICO crimes and evidence does House GOP have? Since they don't seem to know."

Newsweek has reached out to Cruz and Ocasio-Cortez via email for additional comment.

Some users on X have raised questions about Ocasio-Cortez's statements in light of the RICO charges against Donald Trump in Georgia. The former president and 18 co-defendants were indicted last August on charges that they tried to overturn the state's electoral results in the 2020 presidential race.

"RICO requires a criminal enterprise and a pattern of racketeering activity," former federal prosecutor and West Coast Trial Lawyers President Neama Rahmani previously told Newsweek.

Republicans' efforts to impeach Biden have been dismissed by Democrats and the White House has called them a political stunt. Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said at the end of Wednesday's hearing that he plans to invite the president to testify in front of the Oversight Committee. "We need to hear from the president himself."

Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, responded to Comer's plans on X Wednesday evening, writing: "LOL."

He added: "This is a sad stunt at the end of a dead impeachment. Call it a day, pal."