Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) dodged House ethics rules by claiming her then-boyfriend as a "spouse" to snag a free $250 Met Gala ticket in 2021, as the New York Post reports.
The House Ethics Committee, after a three-year probe, ordered Ocasio-Cortez to repay $2,983.28 for the ticket and lavish gifts, including a “Tax the Rich” dress, ruling her spousal privilege claim baseless.
In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez attended the glitzy Met Gala, where tickets cost $35,000 each, by securing a free pass for her then-boyfriend Riley Roberts. She justified it by listing him as her “spouse” on House paperwork, despite not being legally married. House rules only allow free tickets for charity events for lawmakers, their spouses, or children.
The Office of Congressional Ethics initially called the free ticket “permissible” because Ocasio-Cortez treated Roberts as a spouse. “Opted to treat a long-term significant other as synonymous with a spouse,” the preliminary probe stated. But the House Ethics Committee’s July 25 report slapped that down, declaring the claim “not based on any law or precedent then in existence.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s attorney doubled down, insisting Roberts “is considered a ‘spouse’” in May discussions with the committee. That flimsy excuse didn’t hold up, as spousal privileges apply only to legally married couples. The committee unanimously rejected her argument, exposing her attempt to bend the rules.
The investigation also uncovered Ocasio-Cortez’s failure to disclose Roberts’ financial interests, a requirement for legally married spouses. Her excuse of treating him as a spouse conveniently vanished when it came to financial transparency. This selective rule-following reeks of progressive privilege.
Beyond the ticket, Ocasio-Cortez accepted a “Tax the Rich” dress, designed by Aurora James for Brother Vellies, valued at over $18,000 retail. A campaign staffer haggled the price down from $1,300 to $990.76, delaying payment for months and even threatening vendors with labor department referral. The total value of her glamorous attire, including shoes, jewelry, and a floral hairpiece, hit $3,724.04.
House rules strictly prohibit lawmakers from accepting such gifts. Ocasio-Cortez’s team tried to spin it as compliance, but the committee wasn’t buying it. She was ordered to donate $250 to the Met Gala’s charity host and repay $2,733.28 for the dress and accessories’ fair-market value.
“The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance,” said Mike Casca, her chief of staff. Efforts? More like exploiting loopholes until caught.
Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts, together since 2016, got engaged in 2022, a year after the Met Gala. Her lawyer admitted Roberts wasn’t a “relative” under House regulations, yet she still claimed spousal perks. This isn’t just a paperwork error -- it’s a deliberate sidestep of accountability.
Interestingly, Ocasio-Cortez co-sponsored a bill to ban stock trades for congressional spouses. Since she and Roberts aren’t married, he’d skate free if the bill passes. Convenient, isn’t it?
Her $3,057.04 engagement ring, gifted after the 2022 proposal, hasn’t been seen since November 2023, per the Washington Free Beacon. No comment from her office, naturally. Transparency seems to be a one-way street.
“She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts,” Casca claimed, as if Ocasio-Cortez had a choice. The committee’s 26-page report laid bare her rule-breaking, from the free ticket to undisclosed financial interests. Her “Tax the Rich” stunt at the Met Gala now looks like a taxpayer-funded fashion show.
This saga highlights a broader issue: progressive elites preaching fairness while gaming the system. Ocasio-Cortez’s actions betray the same entitlement she rails against. The House Ethics Committee’s ruling is a rare win for accountability over woke posturing.
While Ocasio-Cortez dons designer dresses and claims spousal perks for her boyfriend, everyday Americans foot the bill. Her repayment might settle the debt, but it won’t erase the hypocrisy. The “Tax the Rich” champion seems awfully comfortable enjoying their perks.
