Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Met Gala Dress Featuring 'Wealth Tax' Print Sparks Debate
"Borrowed" vs "Isn't It a Gift?" Ethics Committee Investigation
Last year, Representative Cortez attended the Met Gala wearing a white dress with the phrase "Tax the Rich" written on it. [Image source=AP·Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a star politician of the U.S. progressive camp and a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, is reportedly under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 8th (local time), the investigation into Representative Ocasio-Cortez appears to be related to the MET Gala event held at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Last year, Ocasio-Cortez attracted attention by attending the event wearing a white dress with red letters that read "Tax the Rich." However, the House Ethics Committee has remained silent on the specific allegations of the investigation, and the results are expected to be disclosed next year.
The MET Gala is considered a major event in the U.S. fashion industry. It is hosted annually by the American edition of Vogue and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, with Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour serving as the host. Numerous celebrities, including models, designers, and entertainers, attend the event dressed in extravagant outfits. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, last year's MET Gala had a significantly reduced number of attendees, leading to intense competition for attendance. Tickets typically trade for around $30,000 (approximately 39 million KRW), and the funds raised from the event are known to average around 15 billion KRW. The proceeds are used to operate the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for fundraising purposes.
Ocasio-Cortez wore a creation by Aurora James, the lead designer of 'Brother Vellies,' at last year's event. James, a Black female designer, and Ocasio-Cortez reportedly have a connection through their work in New York's local community. James stated about Ocasio-Cortez's dress, "The MET Gala is clearly an event that attracts worldwide attention," and added, "After consulting with Ocasio-Cortez, we decided to include a phrase about economic equality and justice." Around the same time, Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Party announced a tax increase proposal to impose a 2% wealth tax on annual incomes exceeding $5 million (approximately 650 million KRW).
Some conservative groups raised concerns to the House Ethics Committee in June regarding this matter. According to U.S. congressional ethics rules, invitations to charity events can be received directly from the host, but the MET Gala invitations are distributed by media conglomerate Cond? Nast. Additionally, there were criticisms about Ocasio-Cortez's claim that the dress was rented. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) argued, "If Representative Ocasio-Cortez were an ordinary citizen, the designer would not have specially made a custom dress for her to attend a fashion event," insisting that the dress should be considered a gift.
Ocasio-Cortez stated that since elected officials in New York City are frequently invited to the MET Gala, she attended "due to the responsibility of overseeing the city's cultural institutions that serve the public." Regarding the Ethics Committee investigation, her office said, "Representative Ocasio-Cortez has refused any donations from lobbyists, corporations, or other interest groups and has always taken ethics incredibly seriously," adding, "We are confident that this matter will be dismissed."
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