Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a high-profile member of the progressive “Squad,” has once again found herself at the center of controversy — this time over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.A newly released report from the House Ethics Committee reveals that the New York Democrat violated congressional rules by accepting thousands of dollars in goods and services associated with her appearance at the exclusive event, most infamously marked by her bold “Tax the Rich” dress.The committee determined that Ocasio-Cortez improperly accepted over $3,700 worth of gifts and benefits for her and her boyfriend’s attendance at the Met Gala, including a couture gown, rented designer accessories, and tickets valued at $35,000 each.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a high-profile member of the progressive “Squad,” has once again found herself at the center of controversy — this time over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.A newly released report from the House Ethics Committee reveals that the New York Democrat violated congressional rules by accepting thousands of dollars in goods and services associated with her appearance at the exclusive event, most infamously marked by her bold “Tax the Rich” dress.The committee determined that Ocasio-Cortez improperly accepted over $3,700 worth of gifts and benefits for her and her boyfriend’s attendance at the Met Gala, including a couture gown, rented designer accessories, and tickets valued at $35,000 each.
However, despite confirming multiple violations of House rules, the panel opted not to issue formal punishment, provided the congresswoman completes repayment of the remaining costs — a decision now sparking renewed debate over transparency, ethics, and accountability in public office.
The ruling stems from an investigation lasting more than three years, sparked by delayed payments, vendor complaints, and even legal threats made against the congresswoman’s team by unpaid service providers.The committee’s findings paint a picture of negligence, mismanagement, and efforts by Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign staff to downplay and negotiate down the costs of services after the high-profile appearance had already taken place.
According to the committee’s report, the fair-market value of the items associated with Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 Met Gala appearance totaled approximately $3,724.04. These included a rented Brother Vellies dress custom-designed for the event, a matching handbag and shoes, jewelry, and a floral hair accessory.Despite House rules prohibiting members from accepting such gifts, particularly when not invited by a qualifying charity host, the congresswoman and her staff proceeded with the arrangements and delayed repayments for several months.In one particularly damning section of the report,
the committee noted that most of the vendors involved in outfitting Ocasio-Cortez were not paid until months later — and only after they made repeated collection attempts, some even threatening legal action.A hairstylist’s invoice for $477 went unpaid for nearly six months, prompting the stylist to threaten to report the congresswoman’s campaign to the New York Department of Labor.“Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s attempt to apply a retail rental cost to a handmade couture gown was unrealistic,” the committee wrote, pointing to an effort by her former campaign manager to compare the custom-made gown to lower-cost rentals available online in an attempt to reduce the bill.In the end, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign paid only $990.76 for the entirety of the goods and services received, a figure well below the actual market value as calculated by the committee.The panel also found that her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, received a free ticket and meal without proper justification under House rules, further compounding the ethics breach.While the committee did not find evidence of intentional wrongdoing on the part of Ocasio-Cortez herself, it did assign responsibility for the violations to her staff’s mishandling of invoices and their ongoing failure to resolve the outstanding debts in a timely manner.In particular, the report criticized then-campaign manager Rebecca Rodriguez, who was shown to have attempted to negotiate the price of the designer dress down from $1,300 to $300, while failing to pay a number of additional bills related to the evening.The committee also cited a 2022 bill submitted to Ocasio-Cortez’s team totaling $5,579, covering car service, hotel accommodations, and accessories such as Roberts’ bowtie and cummerbund.
That bill, too, was not settled for over a year, and committee members expressed frustration that they never received a clear answer as to why payment was not requested or provided upfront by the designer and other vendors involved.“No one appeared to be thinking about the cost of anything,” the committee wrote, citing testimony from Ocasio-Cortez’s lawyer, who argued that her staff had been instructed to keep expenses low due to the congresswoman’s “limited financial means.”Despite this guidance, the report indicated that standard practices — like getting estimates, setting spending limits, or ensuring prompt payment — were largely ignored.Ultimately, the committee concluded that Ocasio-Cortez violated multiple House rules by accepting and delaying payment for valuable goods and services associated with the Met Gala.“Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s conduct violated House rules, laws, and standards of conduct,” the report stated, but added that the matter would be considered closed once she donates $250 to account for her boyfriend’s dinner and pays an additional $2,733.28 to cover the remaining fair-market value of the items used.The ruling has raised eyebrows across Washington, with critics calling it a political slap on the wrist and questioning whether other lawmakers would be treated with the same leniency.Others have pointed to the overt symbolism of the “Tax the Rich” dress worn by Ocasio-Cortez — an outfit now viewed by some as ironically emblematic of the kind of elite privilege she regularly condemns.The designer of the dress, Aurora James, was personally instructed by Vogue editor Anna Wintour to create a custom gown for Ocasio-Cortez to wear to the gala, despite having little experience in haute couture.
Wintour invited the congresswoman and her boyfriend to the event not as guests of the charity-hosting Metropolitan Museum of Art, but rather as Vogue’s guests — a crucial distinction that placed the invitation outside the exceptions allowed under House ethics rules.Although House members may accept tickets to certain charitable events, they must be invited by the organization hosting the event. In this case, Wintour’s role as a private figure and Vogue’s sponsorship status complicated the legitimacy of the invitation under congressional ethics guidelines.Ocasio-Cortez’s office responded quickly to the report’s release. Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, issued a statement saying, “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 as a Member of the House.” Casca added, “She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”Still, the report has given fresh ammunition to Ocasio-Cortez’s critics, who accuse the congresswoman of posturing as a champion of the working class while accepting VIP treatment behind the scenes.“She built her brand on opposing elitism, and yet here she is—getting a free pass to a $35,000-per-head gala, wearing a designer dress, and skipping the bill,” said one House GOP aide. “It’s a double standard.”Progressive supporters, on the other hand, have largely dismissed the controversy, portraying it as a partisan attempt to discredit one of the most visible members of Congress.“This is a nothingburger,” said liberal commentator Erica Marlowe. “She went to a charity event, wore a dress with a message, and the ethics committee says she didn’t mean to break the rules. She’s paying the difference. End of story.”But the political optics may linger longer than the fines. AOC’s Met Gala appearance drew intense media attention even at the time, not only for her message-draped gown but also for her presence at one of the most exclusive, celebrity-filled events in the world. Critics accused her of hypocrisy, while supporters praised her for “bringing the message to the elites.”