AOC lashes out at White House border czar Homan

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused White House border czar Tom Homan of trampling on her constitutional rights by saying she might be prosecuted for coaching unauthorized immigrants on how to deal with deportation officers.

The New York Democrat said Mr. Homan crossed the line when he asked the Justice Department to open a probe and said she would be “in trouble.”

She demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi reveal whether an investigation has been opened.

“Mr. Homan’s repeated attempts to use your agency to politically intimidate duly elected officials are a textbook threat to the right to free speech in the United States,” the congresswoman wrote. “Threatening criminal proceedings for exercising the First Amendment is itself a violation of the First Amendment.”

Mr. Homan and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez have been sniping at each other for weeks.

He called her “the dumbest congresswoman ever.” She fired back, complaining about “these cowards.”

“He can threaten me with jail & call names all he wants. He’s got nothing else,” she said on social media.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez released a “know your rights” video for immigrants who have to deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the government’s deportation agency. Mr. Homan used to run ICE, and he said her video coached people to avoid being caught for violations of the law.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, in her letter to the attorney general, said she felt educating people about their rights was “a key part of our responsibility as elected officials.”

She said that shouldn’t spur a federal criminal investigation.

“A government that uses threats of DOJ investigations to suppress free speech is a threat to all, regardless of political ideology,” she said.

She gave a Wednesday deadline to receive information about any open investigation into herself.

The Justice Department suggested the congresswoman’s letter won’t be a high priority.

“The Department of Justice received this letter. The DOJ also just received 29 violent cartel leaders on American soil following an unprecedented extradition. We are more focused on the latter,” the department said.

The Washington Times has sought comment from the Justice Department.

Mr. Homan has said the Trump administration will take action against those who attempt to thwart immigration enforcement.

He has praised Ms. Bondi for her early efforts, which include civil lawsuits against sanctuary policies in Illinois and New York.

Mr. Homan has said criminal laws against harboring unauthorized immigrants could also be used against sanctuary jurisdiction leaders, though no such lawsuits have been filed.