Watchdog slapped an ethical complaint against “squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, accusing him of misusing taxpayer funds in his dance “training.”
Americans for Americans, a private watchdog group targeting corruption, claimed that Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), 35 people used the representative allowances of its members to fire $3,700 for what they call “training” in December from “Juan D. Gonzalez” to “Bonbozo Dance CO., Inc.” to “Juan D. Gonzalez” at $850.
On Tuesday, Watchdog sent a complaint to the Congressional Office of Ethics (OCE) claiming that the official had paid “violated federal law and the House of Representatives standards.”
Ocasio-Cortez dismissed concerns about the two payments in December 2024, appearing to be insisting that it was campaign costs instead.
“I'm 100% wrong. This isn't taxpayer money, this is FEC filing. I'm loudly wrong about something else. Try again next time I wrote it on x Saturday in response to criticism.
This post could not find references to “Juan D Gonzalez” or “Bombazo Dance Co Inc” Federal Election Commission Records Payment for Ocasio-Cortez's Congressional Campaign.
Americans for the Public Trust disputed Ocasio-Cortez's claim that the payments were made in campaign cash. List of 1120 pages House expenditures from October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
“The representative of Ocasio-Cortez made spending from her official office account that she should have claimed herself to be reported to the FEC, probably because it was made for campaign purposes,” WatchDog wrote in the complaint.
“If it becomes clear that Ocasio-Cortez representatives have demonstrated a pattern of paying campaign fees using taxpayer-funded MRAs, we will further request that a full investigation be launched from your office.”
Bombazo Dance Co Inc. is a youth dance organization based in the Bronx. Posted Videos Bombazo Dance Co Inc.'s Facebook page showed a progressive darling who played drums at work in December and danced alongside his patrons.
Details about the “Juan D Gonzalez” that received payments are not immediately clear.
Members' representative allowances are funds provided by members to help the House of Representatives send invoices for official fees related to staff compensation, travel, rent, printed documents, mail, equipment, and more.
In 2023, the house allocated approximately $810 million to its members' representative allowances. According to the Congressional Research Service.
Americans for Public Trust is urging OCE to review lawmakers' use of allowance funds more thoroughly.
This post was contacted the Ocasio-Cortez press team for comments.
Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethical complaints in the past.
Two years ago, she was investigated for a revelation that she received a free ticket to attend a star-studded New York City charity event at Met Gala in 2021.
She also received a discounted fee to rent a white brother Very dress designed by Aurora James. Aurora James featured the handbags he had at the gala, as well as “tax the rich.”
Reps are restricted from receiving free gifts under ethics regulations, with certain exceptions, but the Met Gala was not one of them.
As staff “didn't explain” the discount, the OCE unanimously recommended that the House Ethics Committee take further investigation into whether it accepted “unacceptable gifts.”
The Bronx and Queens-based rep was struck by a complaint supported by the Heritage Foundation in 2023, where she “miscribing” Chaya Raichik, the woman behind Libs on the Tiktok X account, claiming she was “honored ama.”
At the time, Ocasio-Cortez Publicly condemned Lychik lied in her 2022 post with her claim that a Boston hospital “providing young girls with a “gender” that affirms hysterectomy.”
The Heritage Foundation has accused lawmakers of “spreading lies and spreading disinformation.”
