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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) on Thursday denounced a witness before the House Oversight Committee who defended the recent controversial six-week abortion ban in Texas, arguing that “Sometimes it takes years for someone to admit that they have been sexually assaulted.
Ingrid Skop, a Texas-based doctor who advocates for the Texas abortion ban, argued during the hearing about abortion rights and access that state law, which prohibits abortion abortions after heart activity is detected, or about six weeks after the onset of pregnancy, allows enough time for women to determine whether a pregnancy is the result of sexual assault.
“In the case of rape, women usually know they have been raped,” Skop said.
However, Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke earlier this year about being previously sexually assaulted, challenged the doctor’s testimony, saying, “When you’re raped you don’t always know what happened to you.”
“And I’m talking about it as a survivor,” added the MP, noting that “six weeks pregnant is two weeks late for her period.”
“This myth that it’s a person hiding in a street or in a parking lot while waiting to sexually assault you,” she continued. “This myth only benefits those in power who want you to think that’s the way it is.”
” It’s your friend. He’s a boyfriend. He’s a boss. He’s a legislator, ”Ocasio-Cortez explained. “You are so shocked by what happened to you, sometimes it takes years to realize what really happened.”
She went on to say, “I’m a 15 year old male. I weigh 115 pounds. You look at me weird, I’m two weeks late for my period.
“And are you supposed to expect me to know I’m pregnant?” She asked, adding that the stress of a sexual assault could also cause a person to be two weeks late in menstruation, whether you are pregnant or not.
Ocasio-Cortez argued that it was “unbelievable” for Republicans to call Skop as a witness, who she said was “so irresponsible and hurtful to the survivors of this country.”
Last month, the Supreme Court refused to prevent the Texas law from coming into force, raising concerns among Democrats and abortion rights activists, especially because the law does not provide for exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
The abortion ban also allows virtually any citizen to take legal action against an abortion provider or anyone who could have helped perform an abortion that violates the six ban. weeks.
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