AOC faces dressing down for accepting ‘tax the rich’ dress
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ may have broken congressional rules by accepting the “tax the rich” dress she wore at the Met Gala, a watchdog said.
The House of Representatives ethics committee said its investigation was being extended, after the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) found “substantial reason to believe that she accepted impermissible gifts”.
Ms Ocasio-cortez, 33, has denied breaking any rules. The New York Democrat wore a white dress with the words “tax the rich” scrawled across it in red to attend the prestigious event in 2021.
She was provided the “couture dress, handbag, shoes, and jewellery”. It initially led to a bill for nearly $2,300 (£2,000), but that was revised later to about $990 (£823). The cost for the car service, a stay at the Carlyle Hotel, and a bow tie and shoes for her partner amounted to $5,579.99 (£4,673).
The OCE said: “If Rep Ocasio-cortez accepted impermissible gifts, then she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.”
The House said in December it was investigating her, but did not name her.