Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez invites woman who confronted Jeff Flake to the State of the Union
The woman who confronted former Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation is headed back to Congress, this time to attend the State of the Union.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has invited activist Ana Maria Archila as her guest for Tuesday's speech, The Intercept reports. During the contentious Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, Archila, who identified herself as a survivor of sexual assault, cornered the then-senator in an elevator alongside another woman and implored him not to support Kavanaugh's confirmation in light of the sexual assault allegations against him. After being broadcast live on CNN, the confrontation went viral. Flake that same day pushed for an additional FBI investigation into Kavanaugh, who denied the allegations, but ultimately voted in favor of confirming him.
Archila, who is the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action and is from the district Ocasio-Cortez represents, told The Intercept that is she is "moved" by the congresswoman's decision to invite her and to shed a light back on "my confrontation with the men who do not understand the life of women and the lives of people who are not in power."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It's typical for members of Congress to invite State of the Union guests who help them make a political statement, and other attendees Democrats have invited to Trump's speech this year include a government worker affected by the shutdown, a mother and daughter who were separated at the border, and a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, per CNN.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The best homes of the year
Feature Featuring a grand turret entrance in New York and built-in glass elevator in Arizona
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nordstrom family, investor to take retail chain private
Speed Read The business will be acquired by members of the family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real estate company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published