Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offered a succinct reply when questioned about a former colleague’s run for Congress, choosing not to comment on Saikat Chakrabarti, her past aide, who prominently features her in his campaign promotions.
Ocasio-Cortez was caught off guard by a DropSite reporter on Monday, who inquired whether she’d like to address swirling rumors regarding Chakrabarti. He served as her chief of staff for a brief period in 2019 and is now vying for Nancy Pelosi’s soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat.
“I’m just not commenting on the race,” the congresswoman from the Bronx remarked, steering clear of further discussion.
Chakrabarti has eagerly highlighted his connection to Ocasio-Cortez, even incorporating her image into his campaign materials while claiming credit for crafting “The Green New Deal,” a progressive initiative that failed to pass in Congress in 2019.
The 40-year-old tech entrepreneur, an alumnus of Harvard and former organizer for Senator Bernie Sanders, has invested nearly $5 million of his personal fortune into his campaign to succeed the retiring Pelosi in the House of Representatives.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned from working with Bernie and AOC, it’s that you just have to try,” Chakrabarti expressed on the platform X, frequently referencing Ocasio-Cortez in his social media posts.
“Having worked with AOC, I can safely say she’s one of a kind. But I’d be honored to represent San Francisco in Congress and join AOC to build a society that truly works for all,” Chakrabarti wrote in another fawning X post last year.
Ocasio-Cortez’s apparent snub of her former aide and campaign manager has fueled speculation about whether there was a falling out between the two.
Chakrabarti became a lighting rod during his seven-month tenure in Congress, accusing fellow Democrats of racism in incendiary tweets and slamming Pelosi — the powerful then-House Speaker — for “weak leadership,” according to media reports.
Don Ford, a progressive activist who volunteered on Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 campaign for Congress, highlighted a 2019 Federal Election Commission investigation targeting Chakrabarti, who also founded two progressive fundraising groups called the Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress.
Chakrabarti was probed for funneling around $1 million into private companies he controlled. The feds closed the case without penalties.
“The FEC investigated him, and it became a Republican talking point against AOC,” recalled Ford.
“He’s the last type of person we want in Congress. Dude, just stop!”
Pressed by Drop Site to discuss her relationship with Chakrabarti, Ocasio-Cortez frostily replied: “I’m just not commenting on it at all.”
Chakrabarti didn’t respond to a request for comment about his former boss’ comments.
The race to represent San Francisco congress has rapidly become one of the most expensive on record.
Chakrabarti, whose net worth has been pegged at around $200 million, has taken rivals to task for accepting money from corporations as he pours millions of his personal wealth into the hotly contested seat.
Other candidates are state Sen. Scott Wiener, city Supervisor Connie Chan and attorney Marie Hurabiell.
