House Ethics Committee Points Out "Gift Rule" Violation
Ocasio-Cortez's Office Accepts Findings...Promises Restitution
A U.S. House Representative who drew attention by wearing a dress emblazoned with the phrase "TAX the RICH" at the 2021 Met Gala, a fashion charity event, was reprimanded by the Ethics Committee after failing to fully pay for the dress and related expenses.
According to Yonhap News on the 26th, the U.S. House Ethics Committee stated in a report released the previous day that Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received a complimentary ticket for her companion at the 2021 Met Gala and did not pay the full fair market value for the dress she wore, thus accepting an impermissible gift.
The House "gift rule" prohibits members from accepting certain benefits, discounts, or services as gifts. In accordance with this rule, the Ethics Committee demanded that Representative Ocasio-Cortez personally pay the outstanding amount based on the fair market value. However, the committee acknowledged that "Representative Ocasio-Cortez actively took steps to comply with House rules" and determined that her violation was not intentional. Although Met Gala attendees are typically provided with sponsorships or support, Representative Ocasio-Cortez personally covered the cost of her attire and related expenses. The committee also confirmed that she consulted with an attorney when determining the payment amount. Nevertheless, the committee pointed out that "there is evidence that the designer who provided the attire reduced the price based on statements from the congresswoman's office," and noted that "payment for the expenses was significantly delayed, and in some cases, was not made at all until the congressional investigation began."
Representative Ocasio-Cortez's office immediately accepted these findings and announced a plan to make restitution.
Representative Ocasio-Cortez attended the "Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala)," a major event in the American fashion industry, held in New York in 2021. The white dress she wore at the time featured the message "TAX the RICH" written in red letters, drawing significant attention. According to the Associated Press, Representative Ocasio-Cortez attended the event as a guest of the fashion magazine Vogue. The price of a Met Gala ticket is approximately $35,000 (about 50 million won). It is known that Representative Ocasio-Cortez sought to personally cover the costs of her attire, hair, makeup, styling, and accommodation for the event.
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