Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kellyanne Conway have escalated their feud as the New York congresswoman called out the senior White House adviser for failing to attend a committee hearing about her alleged ethics violations.

The two began sparring on Twitter after Ms Conway claimed during a Fox News interview that Ms Ocasio-Cortez was lying about what she saw at immigrant detention centres near the US-Mexico border.

The Democrat had shared a woman’s experience of being forced to drink out of a toilet in one of the centres after the attached sink was not functioning properly — an account corroborated by other visitors — and other harrowing details from inside the detention facilities, where she met and spoke with migrants on Tuesday.

“How many migrant women has Kellyanne Conway touched? Hugged? Sat on a concrete floor with?” she asked in a tweet linking to Ms Conway’s TV comments. “The answer is none. Her actions show she doesn’t believe all human beings are worthy of basic dignity.”

The senior adviser to Donald Trump shot back in a tweet of her own, attacking the congresswoman over her refusal to support a bill that provided additional funding to immigrant detention facilities, saying “All talk, no dollars.”

'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Show all 6 1 /6 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Photos of detained migrants crowded into cells at the US border - with one holding up a sign reading simply "help" - have been released as part of a new report warning of "dangerous" overcrowding. The memo was sent to the Department of Homeland Security by its Inspector General, containing photos taken at border facilities in the Rio Grande Valley over a week in June DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Eighty-eight adult males held in a cell with a maximum capacity of 41, some signalling prolonged detention to OIG Staff on June 12 DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Overcrowding of families observed by OIG on June 11, at a border patrol facility in Weslaco, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Fifty-one adult females held in a cell designated for male juveniles with a capacity for 40 at Border Patrol’s Fort Brown Station DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG

She noted the congresswoman voted against the “bipartisan humanitarian aid” and “even voted against the Democrat aid package”.

That’s when Ms Ocasio-Cortez defended her vote in a tweet that read: “I don’t believe in billion dollar blank checks for unethical, abusive administrations. Including yours.”

She took her criticism of the senior adviser a step further, adding in a follow up tweet: “Also @KellyannePolls, maybe you actually do your job and show up to a Congressional hearing next time you want to talk to me.

“After all you, you ran away and skipped out on Oversight committee last week, just to call into Fox and Friends instead.”

Ms Conway was scheduled to attend a House oversight committee last week after a federal agency recommended she be fired from her post for repeatedly violating the Hatch Act, a law barring federal employees from using their roles for political activities.

She instead joined Fox News’ morning show, Fox & Friends, sparking a backlash from Democrats sitting on the committee. Ms Conway was later issued a subpoena after a vote ended 25 to 16.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events