The House Ethics Committee has just announced that they are conducting an investigation into Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.
In a statement released this afternoon, the committee revealed that “the Acting Chairwoman and Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter rearding Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which was transmitted to the Committee by the office of Congressional Ethics on June 23, 2022,” though the officials omitted the specific reason for the investigation.
“The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgement on behalf of the Committee,” the statement continues.
🚨BREAKING: AOC is under a House Ethics Investigation pic.twitter.com/FFHfinqFJm
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 7, 2022
“The Committee will announce its course of action in this matter following its organizational meeting and adoption of Committee Rules in the 118th Congress.”
While the reason for the investigation is still unclear, a spokesperson for AOC told media outlets that she believes the case will be dismissed and insisted that AOC has never taken any inappropriate money.
“The Congresswoman has always taken ethics incredibly seriously, refusing any donations from lobbyists, corporations or other special interests,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.
Ståle Grut NRKbeta / Flickr
Last year, AOC received an ethics complaint over her attendance at the Met Gala, where she wore a “tax the rich” dress.
“New York elected officials are routinely invited to and attend the Met due to our responsibilities in overseeing and supporting the city’s cultural institutions for the public,” AOC said in defense of herself at the time. “I was one of several in attendance in this evening.”
