Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Facing House Ethics Committee Investigation

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Facing House Ethics Committee Investigation

The House Committee on Ethics announced it is investigating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

The press release did not provide details:

Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(A), and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A), 17A(c)(1), and 17A(j), the Acting Chairwoman and Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which was transmitted to the Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on June 23, 2022.

The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.

The Committee will announce its course of action in this matter following its organizational meeting and adoption of Committee Rules in the 118th Congress.

The Office of Congressional Ethics received two complaints against AOC over her appearance at the Met Gala in 2021. She wore that Tax the Rich dress as she mingled with…the rich.

Lawmakers can accept “free tickets to charity events directly from the organizers.

However:

Conservative groups allege, however, that such an allowance does not apply to the Met Gala, since invitations are controlled by a for-profit company — media conglomerate Conde Nast — and the tables at the event are similarly sponsored by corporate entities.

The American Accountability Foundation — the organization behind the initial ethics complaint filed against the congresswoman — claimed that Instagram “was able to purchase access to Representative Ocasio-Cortez that is unavailable to average citizens” by sponsoring a table at the gala.

The second ethics complaint, filed by the National Legal and Policy Center, alleged that the borrowed white Brother Vellies gown worn by AOC — which featured the alleged “Tax The Rich” in red lettering on the back — constituted an impermissible gift because it was “directly related to AOC’s ‘position with the House’ as a highly visible and controversial Member.”

“If AOC had not been a Member, she would not have been invited to the Gala,” the NLPC complaint read, “and even if she would have been invited as a private citizen, the designer would not have made a special dress for her to wear at the event.”

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