A "lobbyist for a major bank" told Reuters that they're afraid to meet with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who now sits on Congress's Financial Services Committee, because "anything you do or say can be used against you" — the lobbyist likened meeting with AOC to "going in to talk to the FBI."
Another lobbyist cited AOC's use of Twitter to denounce the lobbyists who were invited to brief the incoming Congress at "orientation" sessions as an example of how letting the mask slip around Ocasio-Cortez would result in global social-media shaming for poor, defenseless lobbyists.
Speaking to Reuters, Ocasio-Cortez did not rule out listening to industry concerns to arrive at responsible regulation, but said “they have more than enough sympathetic ears” on the committee.“We also saw in 2008 just a lot of advocacy for policies that were at its core totally irresponsible. But they were dressed up as conservative fair-minded measures,” she added.
Banks weigh whether to embrace or avoid progressive firebrand Ocasio-Cortez [Pete Schroeder and Michelle Price/Reuters]
(Image: @AOC)
