Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Tucker Carlson fuels 'one of the largest sources of death threats' against her

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Fox News fuels political violence in the country.

She particularly singled out host Tucker Carlson.

"One of the largest sources of death threats that I get is Tucker Carlson," she said.

Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday claimed that Fox News fuels political violence in the country, singling out host Tucker Carlson.

"We're acting like it's normal. It's not normal," Ocasio-Cortez said in a radio interview with "The Breakfast Club." "I can tell you 110% — one of the largest sources of death threats that I get is Tucker Carlson."

"Every time that dude puts his name in my mouth — the next day — I mean this is like what stochastic terrorism is," she continued, referring to the idea that public figures using inflammatory rhetoric can inspire political violence without directly calling for it.

She described the meaning of the term as: "When you use a very large platform to turn up the temperature and target an individual until something happens. And then when something happens, because it's indirect, you say, 'Oh, I had nothing to do with that.'"

"He plays a massive role in political violence," the progressive Democrat added of Carlson. "It comes on his doorsteps, specifically."

Ocasio-Cortez, a frequent target of criticism within right-wing and conservative media, has been vocal about the onslaught of death threats she's regularly received since getting elected to Congress four years ago.

Carlson has often mocked the lawmaker during segments on his nightly show. In February, Ocasio-Cortez rebuked him on Twitter after he called her in an episode a "rich, entitled white lady" and suggested an old Instagram video of hers was "an invitation to a booty call."

Ocasio-Cortez's comments on Tuesday come as elected officials have been experiencing an increase in death threats in recent years and concerns about political violence have been on the rise. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released last week found that nearly 9 in 10 Americans are worried about increased risks of political violence.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, was violently assaulted in the couple's San Francisco home last month. David Wayne DePape, a 42-year-old man who reportedly spread right-wing conspiracy theories, was charged with breaking into their house and attacking him with a hammer. DePape was looking for the House speaker, shouting, "Where is Nancy?" at her husband, prosecutors allege.

A Fox News representative did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.