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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Faces Ethics Review Over Met Gala Gifts

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) was found to have violated House ethics rules by accepting over $3,700 worth of rented apparel and accessories for her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala. Items included a luxury gown with “Tax The Rich” written in red, shoes, jewelry, a handbag, and a floral hairpiece. The attire, valued at more than $18,000 retail, was rented for less than $1,000, with the discrepancy scrutinized by ethics officials.

The House Ethics Committee noted that AOC’s team paid only $990.76 for these items, mostly using personal funds, after the committee’s initial investigation and attempts to resolve unpaid vendor bills. Records showed that some costs were disputed and adjusted, with vendors left unpaid for months, leading to threats of legal action.

House rules generally prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts like event tickets, but exceptions exist for charity and widely-attended events. Wintour personally invited AOC and her companion as Vogue guests, not as official museum representatives, and requested a custom dress from Brother Vellies—an order that created legal concerns.

Further expenses included a bill of nearly $478 to a hairstylist, which was unpaid for months, and additional costs in May 2022 for expenses related to the gala, including transportation and accommodations.

The committee concluded that while there was no evidence AOC intentionally underpaid or sought to conceal expenses, her conduct was inconsistent with House conduct standards. Her staff’s attempts to manage costs and subsequent delayed payments were criticized. The committee decided no sanctions would be imposed if AOC repaid the value of the gifts and donated the equivalent of the Met Gala meal value to the Costume Institute.

AOC’s chief of staff stated that the congresswoman appreciates the committee’s findings and intends to remedy the remaining amounts, reaffirming her commitment to compliance with House rules.

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