Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a progressive Democrat and member of the “Squad,” has consistently supported policies such as rent cancellation and eviction protections, including advocating for a moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, she unveiled new legislation aimed at preventing eviction records from appearing in credit reports and expanding legal aid for tenants facing possible displacement.
Her defense for her drastic policies are that “Eviction is an act of violence,” Pressley said in a video shared on social media. “And we have to do everything to prevent it.”
“It degrades the health of communities. There is great stigma associated with it,” she added. “Housing is a human right.”
Naturally, her proposal has received scrutiny. “Great. When can I move into your house for free?” journalist Brad Polumbo wrote in response to Pressley’s remarks.
“The only violence in this statement is what Ayanna Pressley is doing to the meaning of words and the English language,” conservative commentator Steve Guest said.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Pressley reiterated the lawmaker’s stance on the issue.
“Evictions are destabilizing life events with devastating consequences for the physical, financial, and mental wellbeing of those being evicted, who are disproportionately women and families with young children,” the spokesperson said.
Pressley, now serving her fourth term in Congress, has previously faced accusations of hypocrisy related to her housing policies, particularly given her family’s financial ties to rental properties.
Her 2024 financial disclosure shows that she and her husband reported as much as $8 million in combined assets tied to four rental properties in Massachusetts. The filing also indicates her spouse earned up to $350,000 through rental income and the sale of a property.
Among their holdings is a home on Martha’s Vineyard valued at over $1 million. The couple also sold a one-bedroom condominium in Fort Lauderdale in 2024 valued at under $500,000.
Earlier this year, Pressley also drew attention for remarks comparing agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Ku Klux Klan.
“In the same way that the KKK cannot be reformed, another — you know, masked militia group — I do not believe that ICE can be reformed and that this has anything to do with training and protocols,” Pressley said during an interview.
