New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has recently been in the news for owing thousands of dollars to a Black-owned, female-led accessories brand due to a breach of the House “Gift Rule.”
This violation occurred when Ocasio-Cortez did not pay the full market value for items she wore at the 2021 MET Gala, where she made a statement with her “Tax the Rich” dress. Additionally, she accepted free admission to the event for her fiancé, Riley Roberts.
The House Ethics Committee released a report finding that while Ocasio-Cortez tried to comply with the Gift Rule regarding her Met Gala appearance, she did not fully meet the requirements.
The committee discovered evidence indicating that the designer, Brother Vellies, may have reduced costs in response to statements from Ocasio-Cortez’s staff, and payments to vendors were significantly delayed. Payment in some cases did not occur until after the investigation began.
Although the committee did not find the underpayments to be intentional, they did place blame on a campaign staffer who handled payment discussions. Ocasio-Cortez herself attributed the oversight to her staff, stating that she was not aware of any unpaid expenses related to the event.
As a result of their findings, the committee recommended that Ocasio-Cortez make additional payments from personal funds to cover certain expenses related to the Met Gala.
No sanctions will be imposed if Ocasio-Cortez donates the value of Roberts’ meal at the gala to the Costume Institute and pays Brother Vellies an additional amount for the fair market value of the accessories she received.
Once the committee receives confirmation of these payments, they will consider the matter closed.
Ocasio-Cortez, the Costume Institute, and Brother Vellies have not yet responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Contributor: Alexandra Koch, Fox News Digital journalist covering breaking news and high-impact events influencing national conversation and government response.
