WASHINGTON — Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez violated House ethics rules by accepting over $3,700 worth of rented clothing and other items for her headline-making appearance at the 2021 Met Gala. This included a striking gown emblazoned with the words “Tax The Rich” in bold red letters and a complimentary ticket for her then-boyfriend, Riley Roberts — while she paid less than $1,000 for all of it.
The House Ethics Committee criticized the Bronx and Queens “Squad” member for failing to follow its gift regulations and for improperly providing Roberts with free entry to the exclusive charity event, where tickets cost $35,000 each and which is hosted by Vogue’s Anna Wintour. However, the committee stated that AOC would not face further sanctions.
The fair-market value of renting the Brother Vellies couture dress, designed by Aurora James and valued at more than $18,000, along with luxury shoes, jewelry, a floral hairpiece, and a handbag, totaled $3,724.04, according to the 10-member panel.
Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign delayed payments to vendors for several months, with the congresswoman ultimately paying only $990.76, most of it coming from her personal funds.
Her representatives also challenged the costs on the original invoice, attempting to negotiate them down by citing comparable gowns available on Rent the Runway.
“The report bluntly stated, ‘Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s attempt to apply a retail rental price to a custom couture gown was unrealistic.’
The 26-page report also revealed that ‘most payments were only made after repeated collection attempts by unpaid vendors, threats of legal action, or once the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) began its review.’”
The front page of The Post on March 6, 2023.
The OCC’s initial review in 2022 prompted the Ethics Committee to issue subpoenas, though a designer and a publicist ultimately chose to give voluntary interviews with the House panel.
The investigation, which spanned more than three years, “did not find evidence” that Ocasio-Cortez intentionally underpaid for any goods or services but did place some blame on members of her staff, including former campaign manager Rebecca Rodriguez.
In one notable exchange, Rodriguez — who was dismissed by 2023 — questioned a publicist about why the original invoice for the gown was $1,300. The amount was later reduced to $300.
Another bill of \$477.73 for hairstyling services went unpaid by Rodriguez for nearly six months, prompting the stylist to threaten to “file a complaint with the NY Dept of Labor against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress.”
The report concluded: “\[T]he Committee determined that no sanction was merited, 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 in connection with her 2021 Met Gala attendance.” The ethics panel unanimously adopted this finding in a closed-door session on Tuesday.
Mike Casca, AOC’s chief of staff, said in a statement: “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.”
House rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts, with exceptions for tickets to “charity” events or “widely-attended” gatherings for themselves and a spouse or child.
However, Wintour personally invited Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts to the gala “as guests of Vogue” — rather than through the Metropolitan Museum of Art or its Costume Institute — and directed a Brother Vellies designer “to make a dress from scratch” for the occasion, placing the congresswoman under the scrutiny of the ethics committee.
In July 2021, just four months before the gala, the designer expressed frustration, calling Wintour’s demand “insane” because the designer primarily created shoes and handbags and “do\[es]n’t make clothes.”
AOC’s counsel stated that staff had instructed vendors to “keep costs down,” but they were repeatedly told by collaborators and involved companies that “Met Gala attendees don’t normally pay for this.”
The rented shoes were valued at $635 but rented for $160. The Brother Vellies handbag, with a retail price of $995, had a rental value of $157. Jewelry was rented for $78, and a paper hibiscus flower was purchased for $35.
In May 2022, an additional $5,579 was paid after AOC’s team was billed for “new” expenses related to the September 2021 gala, including car service, Riley Roberts’ bowtie and cummerbund, and hotel rooms at the Carlyle.
The report noted, “The Committee did not receive information about why Brother Vellies did not initially seek repayment for these goods and services.”
Her counsel argued, “No one appeared to be thinking about the cost of anything, despite being told to keep costs down by the Congresswoman’s staff because she had limited financial means.”
The Committee concluded, “Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s conduct was inconsistent with House Rules, laws, and other standards of conduct regarding her acceptance of certain goods and services connected to her 2021 Met Gala attendance, as well as her delay in making appropriate payment.”
It added, “Following the publication of this Report and repayment of the value of the improper gifts, the Committee will consider this matter closed.”
