- The House Ethics Committee closed its probe into Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.
- The panel found that the congresswoman “impermissibly accepted gifts.”
- They asked her to pay nearly $3,000 of her own money in order to close the matter.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the 2021 Met Gala ended up being more expensive for her than she might’ve thought.
The House Ethics Committee closed its yearslong probe into the New York congresswoman and whether she accepted improper gifts in connection with her attendance at the high-profile event, where she wore a white dress emblazoned with the phrase “Tax the Rich.”
The panel found that Ocasio-Cortez had “impermissibly accepted gifts,” and said that in order for the matter to be closed, she would need to pay nearly $3,000 in personal funds.
That includes $250 to cover the attendance of her fiancé, Riley Rogers, and an additional $2,733.28 payment to Brother Vellies, the business that designed her dress.
Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, told BI in a statement that she would make those payments.
“The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance with House Rules and sought to act consistently with her ethical requirements as a Member of the House,” Casca said. “She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.