Democratic congresswomen: Yoho’s apology to Ocasio-Cortez not ‘enough’

At least two Democratic congresswomen said Wednesday that Rep. Ted Yoho’s (R-Fla.) apology to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was not strong enough of a gesture after the congressman accosted the New York Democrat in an exchange on the steps of the Capitol on Monday. 

“I know that Yoho apologized today. We don’t think that’s enough. We’re not finished,” Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) said Wednesday on “The View.” 

Rep. @KarenBassTweets reacts to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Yoho’s exchange, saying “all the women gathered around her and we demanded that there be an apology.”

“I know that Yoho apologized today. We don’t think that’s enough. We’re not finished.” https://t.co/VzSbPvr5IA pic.twitter.com/sgOsrstQGF

— The View (@TheView) July 22, 2020

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) similarly said Wednesday that the congressman’s comments should not be accepted as an apology. 

“Rep. Yoho’s actions were unprofessional, misogynistic, and bullying. This was not an apology and no one should accept it as one,” Wexton tweeted. “My colleague needs to take responsibility for his actions—this isn’t it.”

Rep. Yoho’s actions were unprofessional, misogynistic, and bullying.

This was not an apology and no one should accept it as one.

My colleague needs to take responsibility for his actions—this isn’t it. https://t.co/YBEG149ofR

— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) July 22, 2020

In exchange reported by The Hill on Tuesday, Yoho called the first-term Democrat “disgusting” for suggesting that the recent uptick in crime in New York during the pandemic was due to unemployment and poverty. 

“You’re out of your freaking mind,” he told her. 

After Ocasio-Cortez told him that he was “rude,” Yoho muttered “fucking bitch” as he walked away from her. Yoho apologized during his comments on the House floor Wednesday morning. 

In his floor comments, Yoho did not acknowledge using the sexist slur he made as he walked away from Ocasio-Cortez.

Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday she also does not accept Yoho’s apology made on the House floor. 

Asked by “The View’s” Meghan McCain why “men still think they have agency to to say such things about women,” Bass said she thinks they “still struggle with who we are and our positions.” 

“And she’s so high-profile,” Bass added, referring to Ocasio-Cortez. 

“I will tell you, the second that that happened, I searched her out. I went and talked to her. Immediately all the women gathered around her, and we demanded that there be an apology,” Bass said, adding that “a number of the men” did the same. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) was one Democratic congressman who urged Yoho to apologize. Unlike Bass and Wexton, though, Hoyer said he appreciated Yoho’s apology. 

Hoyer appeared on the House floor after Yoho and said he deemed the gesture “appropriate” and predicted that Ocasio-Cortez “appreciates that apology.” Shortly after, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted otherwise.