Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing financial troubles after reportedly breaking some “gift rules” connected to a black-owned, woman-led accessory brand. The issue arose from her not paying the full market price for items she wore to the 2021 Met Gala, including that striking “tax the rich” dress, which drew quite a bit of attention. It’s reported that her fiancé, Riley Roberts, provided her ticket to the event, which is said to cost at least $30,000, but it’s unclear if she bought his ticket.
A recent report from the House Ethics Committee indicated that Ocasio-Cortez made efforts to adhere to the gift rules regarding her Met Gala appearance but ultimately fell short. The committee also noted that the designer, known as Brother Vellies, may have significantly delayed payments to vendors, and in some cases, no payment was made until the investigation had started.
Interestingly, the committee found that staff members seemed too reliant on vendors to help them navigate compliance with gift rules. While it didn’t conclude that there was an intentional attempt to skirt these rules, it heavily pointed to the campaign staff handling discussions about payments.
During the investigation, Ocasio-Cortez expressed frustration that she was unaware of unpaid expenses related to her gown. “I would never have allowed it to happen,” she stated, indicating that while she didn’t know about the bill, she believed it did not violate regulations.
Consequently, the committee suggested that it would be reasonable for her to make some personal payments to cover the fair market value of certain costs incurred at the Gala. However, as long as she donates a meal worth $250 from the event to the Costume Institute and pays approximately $2,733.28 to her brother for the accessories, no sanctions would be imposed. A representative mentioned they believe the matter is now settled once the payments are completed.
Neither Ocasio-Cortez nor her designer brother immediately responded to inquiries for comments.
