The House Ethics Committee has determined that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) underpaid for services and gifts related to her high-profile appearance at the 2021 Met Gala, including the “Tax the Rich” gown and a free ticket for her partner.
Once the payments are made, the committee said, it would consider the matter closed.
“The Committee did not find evidence that Representative Ocasio-Cortez intentionally underpaid for any goods or services received in connection with the Met Gala,” the report states. Instead, it concluded that she had relied on a lawyer for determining fair market prices and a campaign staffer for discussing the payments, it said.
Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the exclusive charity gala, where tickets were sold at $35,000 each for that year, prompted an ethics complaint from conservative watchdog group American Accountability Foundation. That complaint led to a review by the Office of Congressional Conduct, formerly the Office of Congressional Ethics, which referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, the only body authorized to impose penalties for violations of House rules.
In its 26-page report, the committee acknowledged that Ocasio-Cortez “proactively took steps” to comply with congressional gift rules, including using personal funds to pay for various services and “rent” apparel that might otherwise be loaned or gifted to Met Gala participants. However, the committee concluded that she fell short of full compliance.
The fair-market value of the rented “Tax the Rich” dress, along with luxury shoes, jewelry, a floral hairpiece, and a handbag, was estimated at $3,724.04. According to the report, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign delayed payments to vendors and ultimately paid only $990.76, most of that amount with her personal funds.
The committee also took issue with Ocasio-Cortez’s accepting a free ticket for Roberts, to whom she formally became engaged in 2022. At the time, House rules only allowed lawmakers to accept an unsolicited offer of free attendance to a charity event like the Met Gala for themselves and either a spouse or dependent child.
“While the Committee did not find that Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s violations were knowing and willful, she nonetheless received impermissible gifts and must bear responsibility for the other conduct that occurred with respect to the delays in payment,” the report said.
In a statement, Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, Mike Casca, said the congresswoman accepts the findings and will repay the outstanding amount.
“The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance with House Rules and sought to act consistently with her ethical requirements,” Casca said.
“She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”
