She doubled down on the insurrectionist language on Sunday during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, claiming that there was an “extraordinary amount of precedent for” ignoring federal courts.
“It has happened before, the idea of consistency and governance until there is a higher court ruling,” she told Bash, adding that it’s “not an unprecedented thing to happen.”
On Friday, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, instructed the Food and Drug Administration to cease approving mifepristone, while a lawsuit questioning its safety and approval progresses through the courts.
“The ruling and subsequent suspension will take effect in seven days if a higher court, such as the U.S. Supreme Court, does not issue a stay,” Fox News reported.
In her interview with Bash, the New York congresswoman stated that she did not believe that Judge Kacsmaryk, or any court for that matter, holds the power to dictate the actions of the FDA.
“I think one of the things that we need to examine is the grounds of that ruling. But I do not believe that the courts have the authority over the FDA that they just asserted, and I do believe that it creates a crisis,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
In addition, Ocasio-Cortez is advocating for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, alleging that he has “repeatedly breaking the law” following an inquiry that uncovered his long-standing friendship with Harlan Crow, a billionaire contributor and real estate magnate.
ProPublica recently discovered that Thomas had undertaken several trips and received extravagant gifts from Crow without disclosing them. Thomas later acknowledged that he had received “personal hospitality” from Crow but maintained that it was “not reportable” under current guidelines dictating the behavior of federal jurists, which is true.
On Ocasio-Cortez declared that Thomas’ position on the Supreme Court was an “emergency” and that he ought to be impeached. During a subsequent interview on Friday, the “Squad” member reaffirmed her stance when asked to respond to Thomas’ statement justifying his conduct.