Is there a scandal involving Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and President Joe Biden’s son Hunter? No, but an April 13 Facebook post claimed that a phone call between them suggests otherwise.
“’YOU S.L£PT WITH HUNTER!’ – Sen John Kennedy PLAYS New Phone Conversation Between AOC & Potus Son | BREAKING NEWS,” the post’s caption read.
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The video stitched two clips featuring Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. The first clip comes from a March 28 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. In the clip, Kennedy questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about issues at the border. Kennedy mentioned neither Ocasio-Cortez nor Biden.
The second clip shows Kennedy speaking on the Senate floor March 22. He spoke about the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, among other topics. Again, he made no mention of Ocasio-Cortez or Hunter Biden, much less played a phone conversation between them.
We searched news archives and Google and found no reporting that reveals audio of a call between Ocasio-Cortez and Hunter Biden, nor did we find any legitimate reporting that Kennedy claimed to have such a recording. Fact-checkers at USA Today and Check Your Fact have rated similar claims false.
We rate this claim Pants on Fire!
Truth-o-meter Ruling
IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT
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The video shows no such thing.
Statement
Context
a Facebook postSpeaker/Target
Statement Date
Our Sources
Facebook post, April 13, 2023
PBS NewsHour, WATCH LIVE: DHS Secretary Mayorkas testifies before Senate Judiciary committee hearing, March 28, 2023
Kennedy: SVB collapsed because Biden regulators failed, March 22, 2023
USA Today, Fact check: Video shows Kennedy questioning FBI director, not exposing Ocasio-Cortez 'shady activities', Feb. 17, 2023
Check Your Fact, FACT CHECK: Did Sen. Kennedy Reveal Evidence That Connects AOC To Hunter Biden?, Feb. 16, 2023
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