Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Image by Getty Images

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is doubling down on her insistence that former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel not be chosen to serve in President-elect Joe Biden’s administration after reports he was under consideration to be secretary of transportation.

Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter, “What is so hard to understand about this? Rahm Emanuel helped cover up the murder of Laquan McDonald. Covering up a murder is disqualifying for public leadership. This is not about the ‘visibility’ of a post. It is shameful and concerning that he is even being considered.”

What is so hard to understand about this?

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Rahm Emanuel helped cover up the murder of Laquan McDonald. Covering up a murder is disqualifying for public leadership.

This is not about the “visibility” of a post. It is shameful and concerning that he is even being considered. https://t.co/P28C0E4fYP

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 23, 2020

Two weeks ago Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times in an interview, “Someone like Rahm Emanuel would be a pretty divisive pick.” Ocasio-Cortez, seen as a leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, added that “it would signal, I think, a hostile approach to the grass-roots and the progressive wing of the party.”

Ocasio-Cortez later explained her opposition to Emanuel, writing on Twitter that his fight with activists in Chicago over the police shooting of Laquan McDonald, a Black teen killed in 2014, disqualified the former mayor and chief of staff for former President Barack Obama.

“We must govern with integrity and accountability. Laquan McDonald’s life mattered,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

Ocasio-Cortez’s most recent call was echoed by incoming freshmen Democrats Mondaire Jones and Jamaal Bowman – who will also represent the New York City area.

Rahm Emanuel covered up the murder of a Black teenager, Laquan McDonald, while he was Mayor of Chicago.

That he’s being considered for a cabinet position is completely outrageous and, honestly, very hurtful.https://t.co/JEB6PRyztK

— Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) November 21, 2020

Rahm Emanuel should not be considered for any position within the Biden administration. https://t.co/OO1t2n1EI9

— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) November 23, 2020

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