AOC Blasts Republicans for Investigating COVID Fraud

“Squad” Rep. leader Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn Wednesday, D-NY., questioned the motives for Republicans who were leading an investigation by the House Oversight Committee into fraud, waste and abuse in COVID-19 relief programmes. 

Ocasio Cortez accused the GOP majority of stealing during a hearing about federal pandemic expenditures “rank partisanship” Because Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) had sent letters to California and New York requesting information Tracking fraud and making improper payments in the unemployment insurance programs – but not Republican-controlled states where rampant fraud has been reported. 

Citing a report by the Pandemic Response Accountability CommitteeOcasio-Cortez stated that Arizona paid $1.6B in unemployment benefits to people with stolen identities, and Louisiana dispersed $1M to individuals who died after receiving them. Comer’s native Kentucky, she said, was where state employees applied to unemployment benefits while they were still employed by the state. She pointed out that they could access the state’s information management software and lift hold on their own accounts. 

“None of these states have been put under investigation by this committee,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I find it very interesting because as was stated at the beginning, the bipartisan nature of oversight is what gives it its power.” 

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COVID AID FRAUD TO BE FOCUS OF HOUSE HEARING

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez arrives at the Rayburn House Office Building for a meeting in the House Oversight and Reform Committee on January 31, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images / Getty Images)

She called Comer’s methods “comer’s methods”. “highly questionable” According to the Democrats, they are prepared to oversee elections even if that means challenging their party. 

“But I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the majority would send these three letters just to these three states. That leaves us with no other conclusion that [sic] there needs to be some rank partisanship in this investigation,” She asserted. 

Comer responded to her accusation, stating that he would investigate. “love” Join her in a joint investigation into the Kentucky unemployment benefits program. 

“I would love to work with you on that or any of the 50 states, because I believe it’s a problem in all 50 states, especially Kentucky. You’re exactly right,” He stated. 

ERNST CALLS OUT FEDERAL FAUDSTERS THAT TOOK COVID-19 UNEMPLOYMENT, WHILE GETTING PAYCHECKS TAXPAYERS

Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, makes remarks at a hearing held in the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., on February 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images

Wednesday’s hearing was the first Oversight hearing this year and focused on fraud in federal spending of $5 trillion. COVID-19 pandemic relief programmes.

Comer made the opening remarks and called for rampant waste of fraud and abuse to be addressed in the government’s pandemic stimulus. Small business loanUnemployment insurance programs and. “the greatest theft of American taxpayer dollars in history,” And he said that the committee would hold “many more hearings on this important issue.” 

Expert testimony was presented to the Lawmakers Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz was selected to be the Pandemic Relief Accountability Committee (PRAC), which is an oversight body created by Congress to examine pandemic relief spending. He also served as the assistant director of Secret Service’s Office of Investigations. Gene Dodaro was the comptroller-general of the Government Accountability Office.

FLORIDA MAN WHO BOUGHT MANSION MASERATI USING COMVID FUNDS SENTENCED to PRISON

During a House Oversight Committee meeting, Gene Dodaro, Michael Horowitz and David Smith were sworn into office. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images

Horowitz To lawmakers PRAC data scientists identified that 69,000 Social Security numbers had been used to secure $5.4 Billion in pandemic relief loans. Additionally, 175,000 additional dubious numbers were used in applications that were denied.

Smith stated that the Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Forces helped to secure fraudulent unemployment benefits of $3 billion and more than $1B in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funding. 

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Dodaro said that $4.3 billion in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims occurred during the pandemic. But that $163 billion was available in pandemic unemployment benefits. “could have been paid improperly.” 

At least 779 individuals and entities were convicted or pleaded guilty to fraud charges stemming out of federal COVID-19 relief programs. Dodaro prepared the documents for the hearing.

Eric Revell from FOX Business contributed to this article.