Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez paid less than she should have for clothes she wore to the 2021 Met Gala and shouldn't have accepted a free ticket for her then-partner, Riley Roberts, according to a report issued July 25 by the House Ethics Committee.
The New York congresswoman's appearance at the Met Gala in a dress that read "Tax the Rich" drew immediate scrutiny over whether she had complied with House rules limiting what gifts and free items members may accept.
The committee suggested the representative should make additional payments of $2,733.28 from her personal funds to compensate for the fair market value of certain expenses and $250 to compensate the Met for her partner's meal and if she does, they would consider the matter closed.
"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. She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process," said her Chief of Staff Mike Casca in a statement provided to USA TODAY.
According to the report, Ocasio-Cortz made proactive steps to comply with the House gift rule, which limits the size of gifts members of Congress may accept, by arranging to pay for various services and to “rent” apparel out of her personal funds that might normally be loaned or gifted to Met Gala participants.
