Ethics Complaint Alleges AOC’s Violation of House Rules Money Use

Black shoes facing legal illegal arrows on pavement

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces a serious ethics complaint for allegedly using taxpayer funds for dance lessons and personal expenses, while her defensive response on social media appears to contradict official documentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Americans for Public Trust filed an ethics complaint against AOC for allegedly misusing her Member Representational Allowance for personal expenses, including $4,550 for dance training.
  • AOC claimed on social media that the expenses were campaign-related and “not taxpayer money,” but investigators found no corresponding entries in her FEC filings.
  • The questionable payments include $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” both categorized as “training” in House disbursement records.
  • Federal law prohibits using the Member Representational Allowance for personal or campaign-related expenses.
  • This is not AOC’s first ethics investigation, as she previously faced scrutiny over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.

Watchdog Group Demands Investigation

Americans for Public Trust, a government accountability nonprofit, has formally requested the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s use of her taxpayer-funded Member Representational Allowance (MRA). The complaint centers on what the group describes as “several troubling expenses” that appear to violate both federal law and House ethics standards. These expenses include payments totaling $4,550 allegedly used for dance training and other personal activities that would fall outside the permitted use of congressional funds.

Each member of Congress receives an MRA specifically designated for official congressional duties such as staff compensation, office expenses, and official travel. Federal regulations explicitly prohibit using these funds for personal activities or campaign-related expenses. The ethics complaint highlights that Ocasio-Cortez appears to have directed MRA funds toward expenses that should have been covered by her campaign or personal accounts, representing a potential serious breach of congressional rules.

Disputed Payments and AOC’s Response

The complaint specifically identifies two payments that raised red flags: $3,700 to an individual named “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” a Bronx-based youth dance organization. Both payments were categorized as “training” in official House disbursement records. After news of the complaint surfaced, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to defend herself, claiming the allegations were “100% wrong” and insisting the expenses were campaign-related rather than taxpayer-funded.

However, Americans for Public Trust quickly countered her claim, noting that no corresponding entries could be found in her Federal Election Commission filings. The watchdog group pointed out that the expenses were clearly documented in House disbursement records from October to December 2024, contradicting her assertion that these were campaign expenses.

Pattern of Ethics Concerns

This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethics scrutiny during her congressional tenure. In 2023, she was investigated by the House Ethics Committee regarding her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala, where questions arose about improperly accepted gifts, including the designer gown she wore to the event. The committee ultimately resolved that matter without taking further action. More recently, the Heritage Foundation filed a separate ethics complaint accusing her of defaming Chaya Raichik, creator of the Libs of TikTok social media account.

The current complaint includes a request for a thorough investigation into whether Ocasio-Cortez has established a pattern of improperly using her MRA funds. Americans for Public Trust stated in their complaint letter, “If it is revealed that Representative Ocasio-Cortez has demonstrated a pattern of using her taxpayer-funded MRA to pay her campaign expenses, we further request a full investigation be commenced by your office.” The Office of Congressional Ethics has not yet announced whether it will proceed with a formal investigation.

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