AOC’s Designer Met Gala Getup Violated Ethics Rules, Complaint Says

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) violated House ethics rules when she accepted designer clothes and jewelry to wear at the "elite and inaccessible" Met Gala, a new complaint states. 

Ocasio-Cortez, a noted Tesla owner, "borrowed" a custom-made "tax the rich" gown provided by designer brand Brother Vellies for the pompous event. The Democrat also accepted shoes, fine jewelry, and services from professional hair and makeup artists for the outing, she revealed on social media. According to the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, an ethics watchdog group, the items constitute a violation of the House's "gift rule."

"The gift rule for members of Congress is very clear and is in place for good reason. Members simply cannot accept anything of value that isn't on the short list of permitted items," FACT executive director Kendra Arnold said in a statement. "This is a case where the member's own words should trigger an investigation—not only did she state that she did not pay for an item, she also implied that she was given the ticket because of her ‘responsibilities in overseeing' the gift-giver. This entire situation is exactly what the House's gift rule is designed to prevent."