A government accountability group is calling for an official investigation into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over allegations that she may have misused taxpayer funds for campaign-related expenses. Americans for Public Trust (APT), a nonpartisan watchdog organization, submitted a formal complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) on Tuesday, raising concerns about several expenses listed in Ocasio-Cortez’s fourth-quarter Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA).
The complaint highlights two specific payments made from Ocasio-Cortez’s office account: $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” both categorized under “training.” The expenditures, which surfaced in the House’s Statement of Disbursements, have prompted accusations that taxpayer funds were inappropriately used for purposes unrelated to congressional duties.
APT’s letter to the OCE outlines potential violations of federal law and House ethics rules, which strictly prohibit the use of official funds for campaign activities. “House rules are clear: official resources must be used for the performance of official business and cannot be used for campaign or political purposes,” the letter states.
The group also warns that “criminal penalties exist for falsely certifying improper use, including campaign use, of official House funds.” The controversy escalated when a social media user flagged the expenses online.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez fired back on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing the concerns and asserting, “100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time.
However, APT argues that Ocasio-Cortez’s response was not only misleading but also an implicit admission of wrongdoing. “Either she does not know the difference between her campaign funds and MRA, or, more likely, she knows the highlighted expenses were not for official business and should have been paid by her campaign,” APT’s letter contends.
Federal law mandates that congressional appropriations be used strictly for the purpose for which they were allocated. The House Ethics Manual further specifies that taxpayer dollars must be reserved for “official and representational expenses” and cannot fund campaign activities.
Violations of these rules could result in serious penalties, including criminal charges. APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland is urging the OCE to launch a full investigation into whether Ocasio-Cortez engaged in a pattern of misusing taxpayer 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 letter 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.”
The allegations come as Ocasio-Cortez continues to be a polarizing figure in Congress, frequently at the center of ethics and campaign finance debates. House Republicans have previously scrutinized the progressive congresswoman for her financial dealings, including her participation in the Met Gala and an associated ethics probe into gifts she received.
The latest controversy is likely to fuel further political battles over accountability and transparency in Washington. Ocasio-Cortez’s office has yet to provide an official statement addressing the ethics complaint beyond her social media response.
