Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez violated House ethics rules by accepting over $3,700 in gifts for her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala while paying less than $1,000, according to a House Ethics Committee report. The gifts included her now-famous “Tax the Rich” dress, along with shoes, jewelry, a handbag, and hair accessories. The report also found that her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, received a free ticket to the exclusive $35,000-per-head event, which is also considered a violation.
Although the committee decided not to issue formal punishment, it concluded that Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign significantly delayed payments. Several vendors were forced to send multiple reminders, with some even threatening legal action to recover costs. Eventually, she paid $990.76 for the goods and services, mostly from her own funds. Her former campaign manager, Rebecca Rodriguez, was singled out for trying to negotiate prices and failing to pay a $477 hairstylist bill for nearly six months.
The committee found no evidence that Ocasio-Cortez intentionally sought to underpay or avoid compliance. However, they ruled she must pay an additional $2,733.28 to cover the full value of the items and contribute $250 to account for her boyfriend’s dinner at the event. Her chief of staff confirmed that she accepts the findings and intends to resolve all remaining financial obligations.
House rules allow members to attend charity events if invited by the official host organization. In this case, the invitation came from Vogue editor Anna Wintour, not the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which officially hosts the gala. Wintour also asked the Brother Vellies designer to custom-make the dress, a request the designer called “insane,” as she typically designs shoes and handbags.
With the final payments still outstanding, the committee stated the matter will be closed once all remaining costs are reimbursed. The situation underscores ongoing scrutiny over the ethical responsibilities of elected officials, particularly regarding high-profile appearances and gift disclosures.
