(CNN) — The New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez He spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday about a heated exchange he had earlier this week with Florida Rep. Ted Yoho, after which he reportedly called her a “b *** bitch.” Ocasio-Cortez said that by approaching her in this way, “she gave other men permission to do that to their daughters.”
Ocasio-Cortez related the incident and repeated the term, saying that she has a problem with “using women, our wives and daughters, as shields and excuses for bad behavior.”
“Mr. Yoho mentioned that he has a wife and two daughters. I am two years younger than mr’s youngest daughter. Yo Ho. I am also someone’s daughter. Fortunately, my father is not alive to see how mr. Yoho treated his daughter, ”she said in an excited voice. “My mother saw the lack of respect from mr. Yoho towards me on the floor of this House of Representatives on television and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that I was not raised to accept the abuse of men, ”she said.
Then she added: “When you do that to any woman, what mr. Yoho was giving other men permission to do that to their daughters. By using that language, in front of the press, he gave permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, the women of his community, and I am here to say that this is not acceptable. ”
According to a reporter from The Hill Who heard initial comments, Yoho approached Ocasio-Cortez outside the stairs of the House of Representatives on Monday and sparked a conversation about his position on unemployment and crime in New York City. Yoho said she was “disgusting” and said she was crazy, according to The Hill. Ocasio-Cortez said that he was being rude and Yoho said “p *** bitch” as he walked away.
On Wednesday, Yoho apologized on the floor of the House of Representatives to Ocasio-Cortez for the “abrupt form of conversation” he had with her, but denied using that vulgar term to describe her and said he was “very aware” of his language because he was married and a father. The Republican also said: “It is true that we do not agree with the policies and visions on U.SBut that doesn’t mean we should be disrespectful. “
The congressman affirmed that he never used the “offensive insults, words that the press attributed to me.” He added that he is “passionate” about the situation of those affected by poverty and that he believes they can overcome their problems “without being encouraged to break the law,” the subject of their conversation.
“I commit with each one of you to lead me from a place of passion and understanding so that the politics and political disagreement are vigorously debated with the knowledge that we address the problems facing our nation with the betterment of the country in mind and the people we serve. I cannot apologize for my passion or for loving my God, my family, and my country, “Yoho said.
Her office also denied making the comment in a statement to CNN, stating that “he made a brief comment to himself as he walked away summarizing what he believes to be her policies: nonsense.”
Ocasio-Cortez also said that Yoho, in his apology on the floor of the House of Representatives, gave “excuses for his behavior” and that “having a daughter does not make a man decent.”
“Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man, “he said.
The congresswoman said Yoho’s comments “were not profoundly hurtful or penetrating” because she has experienced the same type of behavior as other men while working as a girl and in everyday life.
“I have attended tables in restaurants. I got on the subway. I have walked the streets of New York City. And this type of language is not new, ”he said. “I have thrown out of bars men who have used language like Mr. Yoho’s and have come across this type of harassment on the New York City subway. This is not new ”, he stated.
I refuse to “apologize for something I didn’t say,” Yoho said Thursday, insisting that “no one was harassed, intimidated, or attacked.”
“This was a brief policy discussion, plain and simple, and we have our differences,” he said. “We are both passionate and equal members of Congress. She has every right to account for the conversation, but she has no right to exaggerate, talk about my family or account for something that did not happen for political reasons, “he added.
CNN’s Haley Byrd and Manu Raju contributed to this report.
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