Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Hits Back at Gingrich 'Liar' Attack Over Migrant Center Reporting: 'I'll Take It As a Compliment'

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dismissed an attack from right-wing commentator Newt Gingrich, who accused her of "lying" about human rights abuses occurring at migrant detention centers near the southern border.

In an article published by Fox News, Gingrich — who is also a regular opinion contributor to Newsweek — launched a blistering attack on the New York representative, who has become the leading voice of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and subsequently a favored target of those on the right of American politics.

The attacks became particularly pointed after Ocasio-Cortez visited migrant detention facilities along America's southern border this week. She reported overcrowding, a lack of access to basic hygiene facilities and psychological abuse by staff.

Gingrich branded Ocasio-Cortez "profoundly vicious, cruel and dishonest" over her reports from the border. Though the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general's office and multiple articles have uncovered additional abuses, Gingrich claimed Ocasio-Cortez is "eager and determined to undermine and destroy America as we have known it."

"When your goals are that radical, lying is simply part of the game," he continued. "When you despise American values and find the American people 'deplorable' and contemptible, lying is perfectly natural."

He went on to blame Ocasio-Cortez and her progressive allies for exacerbating the "disaster" at the southern border, claiming their policies set "the stage for innocent people to die." He accused them of sending "signals to desperate and ambitious people around the world that they can (and should) enter the United States illegally."

"It is time for decent people to stand up to her and ask: 'Have you no shame?'" Gingrich concluded.

But, displaying the mettle she has become famous for, Ocasio-Cortez hit back at "Newt" and the right-wing commentariat on Twitter.

"Ah yes, now Newt & the GOP are resorting to calling me a liar," she wrote. "Who else do they call liars?" she asked, before listing "96% of scientists who agree on climate change," "Millions of Americans they locked up in the War on Drugs" and "#MeToo survivors."

"'ll take it as a compliment. Thanks," Ocasio-Cortez concluded.

Despite numerous reports in the media and from inside his own government, President Donald Trump has remained dismissive of abuse allegations at the controversial detention centers.

On Friday, he told reporters the camps were being "beautifully" run. He claimed the centers are "clean, they're good, they do a great job." He then blamed the Democratic Party for the overcrowding.

"They're crowded because the Democrats will not give us any relief from these loopholes," he said. "We have loopholes that are so bad. We have asylum that's so bad. So these places are—many of them, not all of them—but many of them are incredible."