House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Tuesday said that the House of Representatives should punish Rep. Ted Yoho in response to a vulgar insult the Florida Republican used against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps Monday night.
“Bottom line, I think it was despicable conduct,” the Maryland Democrat told reporters. “It needs to be sanctioned.”
The Hill reported that Yoho called Ocasio-Cortez a “f—ing bitch” after the two exchanged words on the steps of the Capitol after Monday evening votes.
Yoho confronted Ocasio-Cortez and harshly criticized her comments that blamed the rise in crime in the city of New York on unemployment and poverty.
Yoho called Ocasio-Cortez “disgusting” and “out of your freaking mind,” and as he walked away, added, “F—ing bitch.”
Hoyer called Yoho’s comments “the act of a bully” and called on him to apologize on the House floor.
Yoho has not commented yet on the backlash.
Hoyer suggested that House Democrats may seek to punish Yoho.
“We need to pursue this kind of conduct and make it clear it is unacceptable,” Hoyer said.
Ocasio-Cortez shook off the incident, tweeting, “I never spoke to Rep. Yoho before he decided to accost me on the steps of the nation’s Capitol yesterday. Believe it or not, I usually get along fine w/ my GOP colleagues. We know how to check our legislative sparring at the committee door. But hey, “b*tches” get stuff done. ??♀️”
