AOC Faces New Ethics Complaint Hours After DOJ Investigation News

A government watchdog group is calling for an official probe into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over allegations that she may have improperly used taxpayer funds for campaign-related expenses. On Tuesday, Americans for Public Trust (APT), a nonpartisan oversight organization, filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), citing concerns about specific spending in Ocasio-Cortez’s fourth-quarter Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA).

The complaint singles out two particular disbursements from Ocasio-Cortez’s office budget: $3,700 paid to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” both categorized as “training.” These expenditures, disclosed in the House’s Statement of Disbursements, have raised questions about whether public funds were inappropriately used for non-legislative purposes.

In its letter to the OCE, APT outlines potential violations of both federal law and House ethics regulations, which strictly prohibit the use of government resources for political activities. “House rules are clear: official resources cannot be used for political or campaign purposes and must be used for the conduct of official business,” the complaint states.

The group further warns that “falsely certifying improper use, including campaign use, of official House funds carries criminal penalties.” Public scrutiny of the expenditures intensified after a social media post drew attention to the spending.

Ocasio-Cortez pushed back on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing the concerns and stating that they were “100% wrong.” She clarified, “This is an FEC filing; none of this is taxpayer money. Be outspoken yet incorrect about something else. Next time, try again.”

APT, however, argues that Ocasio-Cortez’s response was misleading and possibly an admission of wrongdoing. “Either she is unaware of the distinction between her campaign funds and MRA, or, more likely, she is aware that the expenses indicated were not for official business and ought to have been covered by her campaign,” the complaint asserts.

Under federal law, congressional appropriations must be used exclusively for their designated purpose. Likewise, the House Ethics Manual explicitly states that taxpayer money cannot be used for campaign activities and must be reserved for “official and representational expenses.”

Violating these rules could lead to serious repercussions, including criminal charges. Caitlin Sutherland, APT’s executive director, is urging the OCE to launch a full investigation into whether Ocasio-Cortez has a pattern of misusing public funds.

“Representative Ocasio-Cortez has made expenditures from her official office account that she herself contends should have been reported to the FEC, presumably because they were made for campaign purposes,” the complaint reads.

“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.”

This latest controversy comes as Ocasio-Cortez remains a polarizing figure in Congress, frequently entangled in debates over campaign finance and ethics. House Republicans have previously criticized her financial decisions, including her attendance at the Met Gala and the ethics probe into the gifts she received for the event.

The latest allegations are likely to spark further political battles over transparency and accountability in Washington. As of now, Ocasio-Cortez’s office has not issued an official statement beyond her social media response regarding the ethics complaint.