Alexandria Ocasio-Ortez says she is survivor of sexual assault

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US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has revealed that she is a survivor of sexual assault, in an emotional video message, in which she also described fearing for her life during the deadly storming of the US Capitol on 6 January, reports AFP.

The Democrat drew parallels between politicians seeking to “move on” from the Capitol riot and the denial tactics used by abusers.

“They’re trying to tell us to move on without any accountability, without any truth-telling, or without confronting the extreme damage, loss of life, trauma,” she said during her Instagram Live, as she accused Republicans of encouraging violence in the lead-up to the riot.

“I’m a survivor of sexual assault and I haven’t told many people that in my life,” she told her followers.

“As a survivor, I struggle with the idea of being believed.”

She gave no further details about the assault, or when it took place.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez–known widely as “AOC” – also recounted the terror she felt during last month’s assault on the US legislature.

“I thought I was going to die,” she said, describing how she and a staffer were forced to take shelter in a bathroom in her congressional office.

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s online remarks – viewed more than 3,50,000 times – drew widespread praise for bravery and honesty.