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.
-
Puppet shows, pagodas and pho: a guide to Hanoi
The Week Recommends Vietnam's capital city blends the ancient with the new
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'There are benefits, but not acknowledging them would tell only half of the story'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published