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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being investigated by the Home Ethics Committee for an unknown matter.
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It could pertain to a criticism from a conservative group over her attendance on the 2021 Met Gala.
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“We’re assured that this matter can be dismissed,” AOC spokeswoman Lauren Hitt instructed Insider.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is below investigation by the Home Ethics Committee, based on a assertion launched on Wednesday.
The committee mentioned that they had acquired a referral from the Workplace of Congressional Ethics, a separate workplace that critiques misconduct allegations, on June 23 of this yr. That meant {that a} majority of that physique had determined the matter was substantial sufficient to seek advice from the committee, which is presently chaired by Democratic Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania.
They committee famous that the disclosure of the investigation was mandated by a call by the committee to increase the period of time that they are investigating the matter, and that the panel had not made a judgement on whether or not any ethics violation had occurred. In addition they mentioned they might “announce its plan of action on this matter” subsequent yr, after the 118th Congress had convened.
The committee didn’t point out why the congresswoman was below investigation, and in an announcement to Insider, her spokeswoman, Lauren Hitt, didn’t provide additional particulars.
“The Congresswoman has at all times taken ethics extremely severely, refusing any donations from lobbyists, firms, or different particular pursuits,” mentioned Hitt. “We’re assured that this matter can be dismissed.”
It is attainable that the investigation was spurred by a September 2021 criticism from the conservative American Accountability Basis accusing the congresswoman of accepting an impermissible reward by attending the 2021 Met Gala, the place the price of attendance for a lot of friends is $35,000. Ocasio-Cortez was invited to the occasion as a visitor of the Met and didn’t pay for her ticket.
The congresswoman notably wore a gown emblazoned with “Tax the Wealthy” on the occasion. She was not permitted to maintain the gown, Hitt instructed PolitiFact in 2021.
Ocasio-Cortez has mentioned that she attended the occasion in her official capability as a member of Congress, and that lawmakers from New York are routinely invited. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a fellow New York Democrat, has attended a number of Met Galas, and the Workplace of Congressional Ethics lately opened an investigation into Maloney’s attainable solicitation of a ticket to the occasion in 2016.
Home guidelines state that members could not settle for presents, besides below sure exemptions for widely-attended occasions or charity capabilities.
The group argued that Ocasio-Cortez’s attendance violated these guidelines, as a result of the occasion was unique and is run by Conde Nast, a for-profit firm media firm.
Learn the unique article on Enterprise Insider
