OCE Referral Regarding Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

March 2, 2023

On June 23, 2022, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Nature of the Review

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may have accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021. If Rep. Ocasio-Cortez accepted impermissible gifts, then she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

OCE Recommendation

The Board recommended that the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Ocasio-Cortez because there is substantial reason to believe that she accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021.

Committee Action

On December 7, 2022, the Committee on Ethics released a statement indicating it would extend the matter regarding Rep. Ocasio-Cortez pursuant to Committee Rule 17(a).

On March 2, 2023, the Committee on Ethics released a statement announcing it would continue to gather the information necessary to complete its review. The Committee published the OCE report and findings and announced the allegations would be further reviewed pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a).

On July 25, 2025 the Committee released a report unanimously concluding that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s conduct concerning her acceptance of certain goods and services associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021 was inconsistent with House Rules, laws, and other standards of conduct. The Committee determined that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez did not knowingly violate the rules and urged House offices to seek guidance from the Committee, even when represented by counsel, to prevent unintentional violations. In light of these findings, the Committee concluded that upon repayment of the value of the improper gifts, it will close the matter.