Why Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Under Investigation? Maybe For Her Dress, Makeup, And Hairdo At The Met Gala

IIt was September 2021, around the time the world was starting to come out of lockdown, when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared at one of America’s most flashy parties, the Met Gala. The congressman came with a message, delivered through her strapless dress. On the back of the white dress, scrawled in blood red writing, were the words “Tax of the Rich”.

As Ocasio-Cortez spoke to a line of cameras near the entrance, her outfit conveyed the message to passing guests, including billionaire Tory Burch and centimillionaire Kris Jenner. Moguls aren’t the only ones eyeing the dress. Photos of the dress immediately exploded online, sparking a viral mix of praise and outrage that even the Kardashians would envy. In Washington, meanwhile, a different set of viewers was attracted for a more important reason — the attire indicated a possible violation of House ethics rules.

Her one-of-a-kind gown, the Ocasio-Cortez one help create for the occasion, not the property of a congressman. congress guidelines generally prevent MPs from accepting gifts. Ocasio-Cortez claims that he “borrowed” by its designer, Aurora James, a well-known artist known for working with the likes of Beyoncé. It was more difficult to borrow hairstyles and makeup, which Ocasio-Cortez also received from famous artists.

Even if Ocasio-Cortez actually borrowed a more standard gown, it could still lead to her breaking out House prize rules, according to Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust. “Borrowing is not allowed, and the main reason is because it can be used as a way to circumvent all ethical rules,” says Arnold. “As soon as he said that he had ‘borrowed things,’ we were sure it was true prize indication.”

Added Kathleen Clark, a law professor at the University of Washington in St. Louis, who specializes in government ethics and is highly critical of politicians on both sides of the aisle: “It’s not clear to me how he can accept them.”

The Met Gala has also caused ethical issues for others. Another New York Democrat, former Rep. Carolyn Maloney, is facing an investigation from the Congressional Ethics Office for her presence at the event. As part of that investigation, the ethics office obtained receipts and documents showing Maloney paid for the dresses she wore to gala in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Maloney also provided documentation showing she paid for her hair and makeup.

Ocasio-Cortez’s spokeswoman, Lauren Hitt, declined to answer questions. “The ethics committee statement does not comment on the matter of their review and so, out of respect for their ongoing process, neither do we,” Hitt said, adding that the congressman was cooperating with the investigation.

The dress designer also declined to comment. The hair and makeup artist who helped Ocasio-Cortez prepare for the evening did not respond to requests for comment. Mode, Which published footage of Ocasio-Cortez getting ready for the gala and her editor, Anna Wintour, who supervised the event, also did not respond to questions.

If Ocasio-Cortez had taken care of her own dress, hair, and makeup, her presence at the gala might have been enough to raise ethical issues, given that tickets to the event reportedly cost $35,000. The morning after the party, the congressman took to Instagram to maintain his presence. “BEFORE anyone started coming out,” he wrote, “Elected NYC officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met because of our responsibility to oversee our city’s cultural institutions that serve the public. I was one of the few present.”

That explanation made no sense to Tom Jones, founder of the American Accountability Foundation, who called for an ethics investigation against Ocasio-Cortez the day after the party. “The idea that this is constituent service is a joke,” he said. “I once worked in the congress office. Constituent services go to local community development organizations and help them set up a food bank or say, ‘I can help you complete this grant application in such a way that you can get funds to serve your community.’ It wouldn’t be a $35,000 a year gala, listening to rock stars, looking good and pushing some left-handed messages.

Ocasio-Cortez’s suggestion that someone else in her position attend the event also doesn’t quite hold up. Asked whether members of Congress received invitations to the gala, a Met spokesperson said that city officials, such as mayors and park commissioners, usually get invitations, but did not name congressmen. As to whether House investigators had contacted anyone at the museum regarding Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance, the spokesperson said, the Met is not commenting on an active investigation.

Additionally, the lists of government officials who should have been invited to the Met Gala in 2016 and 2018 show zero members of Congress. Only one other federal lawmaker showed up Moderecap 182 photos from “every celebrity look” from the 2021 gala: Maloney, a congressman who, unlike Ocasio-Cortez, represents a part of New York City right in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Voters ousted Maloney from Congress during last year’s primary, so House ethics officials probably won’t say much more about the investigation into him. The ethics committee, however, has promised to provide an update on its investigation into Ocasio-Cortez sometime after its first meeting in the new Congress. It’s not clear when that will happen. Kevin McCarthy won election to become speaker of the House on January 7, but the committee’s first meeting has not yet been scheduled.