Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been found by the House Ethics Committee to have violated House rules by accepting gifts worth more than $3,700 in connection with her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala. This includes her now-famous “Tax the Rich” dress, which became a viral symbol of her political messaging. Although Ocasio-Cortez paid less than $1,000 for the ensemble and related items, the committee concluded that her actions did not fully comply with House rules governing gifts and other ethical standards for members of Congress. The investigation highlighted not only her conduct but also the challenges and complexities of following congressional gift rules, especially when attending high-profile events such as the Met Gala.

The Ethics Committee specifically found that Ocasio-Cortez improperly gave her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, a complimentary ticket to the exclusive event, which cost $35,000 per head. Despite these findings, the committee opted not to issue any formal sanctions against the congresswoman. Instead, the matter will be considered closed once Ocasio-Cortez reimburses the remaining balance for the gifts and covers the cost of Roberts’ dinner. According to the committee’s report, the fair-market value of the rented Brother Vellies dress, shoes, jewelry, handbag, and hairpiece totaled $3,724.04, while the congresswoman’s campaign initially delayed repayment and ultimately paid only $990.76, most of which came directly from her own funds.

Ferrer’s staff also reportedly disputed some invoices and attempted to reduce costs by comparing the couture gown to cheaper rental alternatives online. “Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s attempt to apply a retail rental cost to a handmade couture gown was unrealistic,” the committee noted in its report. Many of the vendors did not receive payment until after repeated attempts to collect the funds, with some even threatening legal action. The prolonged delay in settling these bills led to subpoenas and a three-year investigation, reflecting the committee’s thorough approach in evaluating compliance with House rules and ensuring accountability for elected officials.

The investigation did not find evidence that Ocasio-Cortez intentionally underpaid for the items, though it did place some responsibility on her former staffers. Notably, ex-campaign manager Rebecca Rodriguez was cited for attempting to negotiate the cost of the dress down from $1,300 to $300 and leaving a $477 hairstylist bill unpaid for nearly six months. The hairstylist eventually threatened to report the matter to the New York Department of Labor. Despite these missteps, the Ethics Committee emphasized that no formal punishment would be necessary, provided Ocasio-Cortez donates $250 to cover her boyfriend’s dinner and pays an additional $2,733.28 to the designer.

AOC’s chief of staff, Mike Casca, responded to the ruling in a statement, emphasizing that the congresswoman made efforts to comply with House rules. “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 said. He added that she accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she has done at each stage of the process. The case highlights the importance of transparency and timely payment in adhering to ethical standards for members of Congress.

House rules generally prohibit members from accepting gifts, with limited exceptions such as tickets to charity events when invited by the hosting organization. In this instance, Vogue editor Anna Wintour personally invited Ocasio-Cortez and her boyfriend as guests of Vogue, rather than the museum that officially hosts the Met Gala. Wintour also instructed the Brother Vellies designer to custom-make the dress, despite the designer typically only producing shoes and handbags. Although the congresswoman’s team sought to keep costs low, vendors frequently responded that Met Gala attendees rarely pay for their items. The shoes, handbag, jewelry, and hairpiece were rented at substantially reduced prices, but additional costs, including car service, hotel rooms, and Roberts’ formal attire, later added another $5,579 to the total bill. The committee noted a lack of clarity regarding why payments were not requested upfront and concluded that the delays reflected both limited financial oversight and the challenges of managing high-profile appearances on a limited budget.