AOC May have Broken House Ethics Rules Over Met Gala

The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended the House ethics committee continue investigating an allegation against the New York Democrat “because there is substantial reason to believe that she accepted impermissible gifts” associated with the Met Gala, according to a release Thursday from the agency.

In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez attended one of the fashion world’s biggest nights at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a Brother Vellies white dress with “Tax the Rich” written in large red letters on the backside.

Ocasio-Cortez was provided with the dress, a handbag, shoes and jewelry for the event, according to a report from the Office of Congressional Ethics. She also received hair, makeup and transportation services as well as the use of a hotel room for the event.

The review said Ocasio-Cortez paid for the items, including the rental value of the dress, only after the watchdog office started its review. Investigators said that if the office hadn’t opened the inquiry, “it appears that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez may not have paid for several thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and services provided to her.”

Ocasio-Cortez told investigators she was not privy to the details about the payments, relying instead on a campaign staffer to handle the matter. She also told the office “there was a ball that was dropped,” calling the situation “deeply regrettable.”

The congresswoman’s office said in a statement Thursday that none of the findings rise to the level of an ethics violation because she has always “understood that she had to pay for these expenses from her own personal funds.”