Taxpayer Funds Misused? Ethics Complaint Targets Ocasio-Cortez

Hand placing the letter "S" in the word "ETHICS".

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces new ethics scrutiny after a watchdog group alleged she misused taxpayer funds for personal expenses including dance classes, raising questions about her financial accountability.

Key Takeaways

  • Americans for Public Trust has filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for allegedly misusing taxpayer funds for dance training and other personal expenses.
  • The complaint cites specific payments of $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.” from her Member Representational Allowance, which is restricted to official congressional duties.
  • Ocasio-Cortez claimed on social media the expenses were campaign-related and appeared in FEC filings, but the watchdog group found no such records and cited House disbursement documents.
  • This is not AOC’s first ethics complaint, as she previously faced scrutiny over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.
  • The Member Representational Allowance explicitly prohibits using funds for personal or campaign purposes, making these allegations potentially serious violations of federal law and House standards.

Watchdog Group Demands Investigation

Americans for Public Trust, a government accountability nonprofit, has formally requested the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over what they describe as “troubling expenses” paid from her taxpayer-funded Member Representational Allowance (MRA). The complaint specifically questions payments totaling $4,550 that appear in House disbursement records, including $3,700 to an individual named “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc,” a Bronx-based youth dance organization, with both payments listed as “training” expenses in official records.

The MRA provides each member of Congress with funds specifically designated for official duties such as staff compensation, office expenses, and official travel. Federal law and House rules strictly prohibit the use of these taxpayer funds for personal expenses or campaign activities. The complaint alleges that Ocasio-Cortez’s expenditures violate these restrictions, potentially constituting serious ethical breaches that warrant formal investigation.

Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations in the organization’s letter to the ethics office. “Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s troubling payments from her taxpayer funded account for activities such as dance classes should be investigated,” Sutherland stated, adding that the group is requesting “a full investigation” if a pattern of misusing the MRA for campaign expenses is discovered.

Congresswoman’s Denial Contradicted by Records

When confronted about the allegations on social media, Ocasio-Cortez forcefully rejected the claims, writing that they were “100% wrong” and asserting that “None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing.” Her response suggested that the expenses were properly reported campaign expenditures rather than improper uses of her congressional allowance. However, the watchdog group’s investigation found no corresponding entries in Federal Election Commission filings that would substantiate her claim.

The New York Post independently reported finding no evidence of these expenses in Ocasio-Cortez’s FEC filings. This discrepancy has raised additional concerns about the congresswoman’s financial transparency and compliance with federal reporting requirements. Americans for Public Trust noted in their complaint that if the expenses were indeed campaign-related as Ocasio-Cortez claimed, this would confirm rather than refute their allegation that she improperly used taxpayer funds for non-official purposes.

Pattern of Ethics Concerns

This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethics scrutiny since taking office. The House Ethics Committee previously conducted a six-month investigation into her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala, where questions were raised about her acceptance of tickets to the exclusive event and the “Tax the Rich” designer gown she wore. Additionally, the Heritage Foundation filed a separate ethics complaint accusing her of defaming Chaya Raichik, creator of the Libs of TikTok social media account.

The current complaint focuses specifically on the payments for dance training and their apparent misalignment with the strict guidelines governing the Member Representational Allowance. While Bombazo Dance Co Inc. is identified as a Bronx-based youth dance organization, the identity and services provided by “Juan D Gonzalez” remain unclear from public records. The watchdog group has called for a thorough review of all Ocasio-Cortez’s MRA expenditures to determine if these questioned payments are part of a larger pattern of potential misuse.

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