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Congressional investigators have found that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may have violated House ethics rules and federal law by accepting gifts associated with the Met Gala in September 2021. Ocasio-Cortez wore a white gown with the words "Tax the Rich" written on it to the event; investigators probed the costs associated with the dress rental, jewelry, shoes, bag, hair, makeup, transportation, and hotel.
Her campaign did eventually pay for all the costs from her personal accounts, as required by law. But the payment was made only after the House Ethics Committee began an inquiry into the issue in March 2022, an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics found.
The report found that "several thousands of dollars’ worth of services may have remained unpaid" had it not been for the ethics office's review.
Condé Nast staffers "helped arrange for the congresswoman to have her hair done by a stylist, which led to a $478 bill, and a makeup bill for $345," the New York Times reported. "The custom dress, shoes, handbag and jewelry were provided as rentals from the designer, Aurora James, and initially led to a bill for about $2,300, but that was revised later to about $990."
Ethics rules prevent members of Congress from accepting gifts such as "a gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value." They are permitted to attend charity events, but only if invited by the organization hosting the event.
"Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and her partner, Riley Roberts, were originally invited to the $35,000-per-ticket event as guests of Vogue, and not by the Metropolitan Museum of Art itself, the review found," noted the Times. "But because Vogue and its longtime editorial director, Anna Wintour, are deeply involved in organizing the event, the investigators found the invitation permissible."
The House Ethics Committee has decided to extend its review of the matter. Ocasio-Cortez's counsel, David Mitrani, responded that the Office for Congressional Ethics had not found an ethics violation, only delays in paying vendors for the costs.
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