In a breaking development, the Office of Congressional Ethics has recommended that the House Committee on Ethics investigate allegations of rule and potential federal law violations by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). According to the report, there is “substantial reason to believe that she accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021.”
The report raises concerns over a potential violation of House Gift Rule, which prohibits lawmakers from accepting gifts worth more than $50 from anyone other than family members. The report specifically highlights AOC’s attendance at the Met Gala in 2021, where she wore a dress with the message “Tax the Rich.” The dress was designed by Aurora James, who reportedly paid for AOC’s attendance at the event, with the value of the ticket being estimated at $35,000.
The recommendation by the Office of Congressional Ethics is a serious development and could potentially lead to a formal investigation into AOC’s conduct. Representatives of AOC have not yet responded to the allegations, but the controversy is likely to generate significant attention in the coming days.
It is important to note that at this stage, the allegations are only recommendations by the Office of Congressional Ethics and have not been proven in a formal investigation. However, given the seriousness of the allegations, the controversy is likely to generate significant public scrutiny and attention. We will continue to monitor this story as it develops and provide updates as new information becomes available.
The Report can be found at https://ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.house.gov/files/documents/OCE%20Report%20and%20Findings_16.pdf