Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says a 'considerable amount' of lawmakers 'still don’t yet feel safe around other members of congress'

On Cuomo Prime Time Thursday night, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke about the ongoing threat posed by members of congress bringing guns into the chamber with them, and how many colleagues see it as a security concern. Ocasio-Cortez missed the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday in favor of supporting striking grocery workers in the Bronx, but said safety concerns also played a role in her decision. “I think we also had very real security concerns as well, as you mentioned earlier. We still don’t yet feel safe around other members of congress,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “How much is ‘we’?” asked Chris Cuomo. Ocasio-Cortez responded, “I think a very considerable amount.” Following the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, some members of congress became suspicious that their Republican colleagues may have been in on it. Metal detectors were installed outside the House chamber, angering some Republicans. Some have clashed with Capitol police after setting off the metal detectors, while others have just ignored them altogether. Earlier on Thursday, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD.) reportedly tried entering the House chamber with a gun but was turned away by Capitol police. “The moment you bring a gun onto the House floor in violation of rules, you put everyone around you in danger,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It is irresponsible. It is reckless. But beyond that, it is a violation of rules. You are openly disobeying the rules that we have established as a community, which means that you cannot be trusted to be held accountable to what we’ve decided as a community.”