AOC In Hot Water Over Borrowed Attire For Met Gala
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is under renewed scrutiny after the House Ethics Committee concluded that she violated congressional rules during her highly publicized appearance at the 2021 Met Gala — where she infamously wore a designer gown emblazoned with the phrase “Tax The Rich.”
According to a formal report released by the committee, Ocasio-Cortez improperly accepted gifts associated with the event, including a $35,000 ticket and heavily discounted fashion items. The committee stated that her now-fiancé, Riley Roberts, gifted her the exclusive ticket — a benefit valued far above the limits allowed under House rules.
Most notably, the Democratic socialist congresswoman wore a rented white Brother Vellies dress with “Tax The Rich” scrawled on the back, a look that sparked nationwide media attention. Records show she paid just $990 for the ensemble, which had a fair market value of $3,724. The committee concluded she did not pay the full amount owed and failed to settle the bill in a timely fashion.
In addition to the dress, Ocasio-Cortez’s hairstyling invoice — totaling $477.73 — went unpaid for nearly six months, ultimately resulting in a complaint filed with the New York Department of Labor by the stylist involved.
The ethics probe, which began in 2022 after the American Accountability Foundation filed a complaint, took nearly three years to complete. While the Committee did not find evidence of intentional wrongdoing, it sharply criticized the delays in payment and compliance, which it said contributed to the violation of House ethics rules.
“The Committee determined that no sanction was merited,” the final report states, “provided Representative Ocasio-Cortez: (1) donates the $250 value of Mr. Roberts’ Met Gala meal to the Costume Institute and (2) pays Brother Vellies an additional $2,733.28 for the fair market value of the goods that she received.”
The ruling stops short of recommending further disciplinary action but reinforces the finding that the congresswoman received impermissible gifts and failed to fully comply with payment requirements.
Ocasio-Cortez’s office responded by deflecting blame to staff and emphasizing efforts to correct the record. “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,” said her chief of staff, Mike Casca. “She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”
The incident has reignited criticism of Ocasio-Cortez’s public image, particularly among conservatives who see the ethics violation as further evidence of hypocrisy from a lawmaker who has built her brand railing against privilege, elites, and wealth.
“Tax the rich, but not if they’re dressing you for free at the Met Gala,” one Republican operative said in response to the ruling. “This is exactly why Americans don’t trust these politicians.”
Ocasio-Cortez has previously defended her appearance at the star-studded event as an opportunity to “bring working-class issues into the spotlight.” But as the Ethics Committee’s findings make clear, her attendance may have spotlighted more about her own behavior than any broader cause.