The bipartisan House Ethics Committee is extending its review of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a far left Democrat, over allegedly illegal gifts she received ahead of the 2021 Met Gala, when she made headlines with a “tax the rich” dress.
Ocasio-Cortez was given “a couture dress, handbag, shoes, and jewelry,” according to a House report released this week. “She also received hair, makeup, transportation and ready-room services.” It’s also been revealed by NBC that her then-boyfriend, Riley Roberts, received a bow tie and shoes for the event.
Apparently, Ocasio-Cortez later paid for some of these items, but only after the House Ethics Committee began its investigation into the allegedly improper gifts.
The ethics report states that Ocasio-Cortez “appears to have now paid for the rental value of the attire she wore to the Met Gala and for the goods and services she and her partner received in connection with this September 2021 event,” but warns that without the ethics review, “it appears that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez may not have paid for several thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and services provided to her.”
Ocasio-Cortez previously apologized for the incident, according to Just The News, acknowledging that “There was a ball that was dropped” and said it was “deeply regrettable” when asked about delays in paying the vendors who adorned her and her partner.
This week Ocasio-Cortez’s office reiterated their regret for the incident, but asserted that the delayed payments “do not rise to the level do not rise to the level of a violation of House Rules” and predicted the matter would be dismissed.
The probe began in December of 2022, when a vague statement was released revealing that Ocasio-Cortez was under investigation. This would seem to suggest that she left vendors unpaid for nearly two years, before only paying them after the investigation began.
This news and commentary by Tom Pappert originally appeared on Valiant News.
