Ethics panel orders AOC to pay $3,000 for 'tax the rich' Met Gala attendance

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Source: NBC News

POLITICS
Ethics panel orders AOC to pay $3,000 for ‘tax the rich' Met Gala attendance

The ethics panel found the New York Democrat had underpaid for some of the items worn to the event. Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff says she "accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts.”

By Stephen Groves | The Associated Press and Lisa Mascaro | The Associated Press • Published 1 hour ago * Updated 1 hour ago

The House Ethics Committee on Friday told Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to make additional payments for her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala, where she drew attention for wearing a dress adorned with the message “tax the rich."

The ethics panel, which found the New York Democrat had underpaid for some of the services and clothing for the event, also issued reports Friday on unrelated ethics allegations against Reps. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick or Florida and Henry Cuellar of Texas.

In a 31-page report on the allegations against Ocasio-Cortez, the Ethics Committee said she had tried to comply with House rules on accepting gifts but failed by “impermissibly accepting a gift of free admission to the 2021 Met Gala for her partner and by failing to pay full fair market value for some of the items worn to the event.”… As a guest of Vogue, Ocasio-Cortez and her partner received tickets to the gala valued at $35,000, as well as customized clothing, hair and makeup styling and a hotel room to prepare for the high-society event.

The congresswoman worked with an attorney to comply with House ethics rules and paid for most of the goods and services with personal funds, but the ethics panel found "the payments were significantly delayed and some payments fell short of fair market value.”

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Read more: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/aoc-met-gala-dress-house-ethics-panel/6348690/