There is “substantial reason to believe” that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez committed an ethics violation by attending the 2021 Met Gala, ethics researchers said.
Focusing on the “impermissible gifts” she may have received, the Board of Directors of the Office of Congressional Ethics said the investigation into the Squad member should continue.
It comes more than a year after a number of conservative groups asked the committee to look into the New York Democratic congresswoman who was awarded $35,000 Met Gala tickets and wore a designer-made “Tax the Rich” dress.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (center) poses on the red carpet for the 2021 Meta Gala in Manhattan, New York. Members of Congress are restricted from accepting gifts, and with tickets averaging $35,000 and wearing a designer dress, Republicans wanted AOC investigated for potential ethical violations.
A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) told Forbes that when the investigation began in 2022, she was confident the case would be dismissed.
“The congresswoman has always taken ethics incredibly seriously and has declined all donations from lobbyists, corporations or other special interests,” the AOC spokesperson said.
At least three conservative groups filed complaints with the House Ethics Committee after Ocasio-Cortez attended the Met Gala on Sept. 13, 2021.
According to investigators, AOC staff were not quick to pay for her rental dress, make-up and other accessories. The Wall Group, which represents the makeup artist, alleged that the forward-thinking firefighter didn’t pay her $477 styling bill until February 2022 — nearly a year after the gala, it said. Business Insider.
“And I would never, never, never have allowed that, knowing what I learned, but that I was not aware of the invoices, not aware of the ones sent,” she told investigators,
And it’s just a very regrettable situation. I feel terrible for the small businesses in particular that were affected.”
She admitted to investigators that “a ball had fallen.”
In a statement, David Mitrani, Ocasio-Cortez’s attorney, said the congressman “found this one” [payment] delays unacceptable, and she has taken several steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
“While it is unfortunate, this case certainly does not rise to the level of a violation of house rules or federal law. Even after the OCE’s extensive review of the congressman’s personal communications, there is no evidence that she ever intended to avoid these expenses,” the statement continued.
“We are confident that the ethics committee will drop this case.”
The ethics committee is now considering the referral sent by the Office of Congressional Ethics, but they have yet to investigate, according to Lauren Hitt, communications director for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
(L-R) Megan Fox, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Aurora James attend 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021
Several conservative groups filed complaints with the House Ethics Committee about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s attendance at the Met Gala in September 2021, where she wore a custom dress
Ethics Committee confirms Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is under review
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and with her fiancé, Riley Roberts (right)
There is “substantial reason to believe” that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez violated ethics with her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala, House Ethics Committee has said
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