US congresswoman says she is sexual assault survivor

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - US Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed that she is "a survivor of sexual assault."

Ocasio-Cortez made the remarks live on Instagram Monday night.

"The reason I say this and the reason I'm getting emotional in this moment is because these folks who tell us to move on, that it's not a big deal, that we should forget what's happened, or even telling us to apologize. These are the same tactics of abusers. And, I'm a survivor of sexual assault," she said with a shaking voice.

"And I haven't told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other," said the New York congresswoman, not giving further details of the assault during her long broadcast.

"And so, whether you had a negligent or a neglectful parent, and -- or whether you had someone who was verbally abusive to you, whether you are a survivor of abuse, whether you experience any sort of trauma in your life, small to large -- these episodes can compound on one another," she added.​​​​​​​