Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), often known by her initials AOC, has been officially found in breach of House ethics rules following her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala. The House Ethics Committee concluded that the congresswoman failed to adhere to gift rules by accepting a "Tax The Rich" dress and other items valued at $3,724.04, while only paying $990.76 for the ensemble.
The investigation, which spanned over three years, scrutinized AOC's acceptance of the dress, shoes, jewelry, handbag, and hairpiece for the high-profile event, which typically sees tickets sold at $35,000 per person. Additionally, the committee found that AOC improperly provided her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, with a complimentary ticket to the gala.
Despite these violations, the Ethics Committee decided against formal sanctions. Instead, they have directed AOC to donate $250 to cover her boyfriend's dinner and settle the remaining $2,733.28 with the designer of the couture gown. The committee's report criticized AOC's staff for their handling of vendor invoices and for unrealistic attempts to reduce costs by comparing the custom attire to less expensive online rentals.
The panel's findings indicate that many vendors had to persistently follow up on payments, with some threatening legal action. This prompted subpoenas and a comprehensive investigation into the matter. While the committee did not find evidence suggesting AOC intentionally underpaid for the items, it did blame her former staff, including ex-campaign manager Rebecca Rodriguez, for mismanaging the payments.
AOC's chief of staff, Mike Casca, stated that the congresswoman made efforts to comply with House Rules and sought to act ethically. AOC has accepted the ruling and agreed to remedy the outstanding amounts.
The case has raised questions about the ethics of accepting gifts under House rules, which generally prohibit members from accepting gifts with few exceptions. In this instance, Vogue editor Anna Wintour personally invited AOC and her boyfriend as guests of Vogue, not the museum hosting the event. Wintour also requested the custom dress from a designer known for shoes and handbags, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Additional bills for car service, hotel rooms, and accessories for Roberts amounted to $5,579, received in May 2022. The Ethics Committee's decision not to impose sanctions has been seen as a lenient resolution, despite the confirmed ethics violations.
