Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) likely broke Congress’s “impermissible gifts” rule by accepting the rented dress she wore to the 2021 Met Gala. The designer of her “Tax the Rich” dress, Aurora James, may be subpoenaed in the ongoing review.
The House Ethics Committee released a statement Thursday saying that it is acting upon the recommendation of the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), a non-partisan, independent entity, in reviewing Ocasio-Cortez’s behavior. The decision was made by House Ethics leadership in December.
“The Board recommends that the Committee further review the…allegation concerning Rep. Ocasio-Cortez because there is substantial reason to believe that she accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021,” the OCE’s report read. The Board made the decision unanimously.
“Rep. Ocasio-Cortez received a series of goods and services which she did not pay for until the OCE opened this review,” read the report, citing her dress, makeup, hair styling, and transportation.