Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit with ethics complaint alleging she misused taxpayer funds on dance training

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Squad' Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was slapped with an ethics complaint by a watchdog, accusing her of misusing taxpayer funds on dance "training".

A private watchdog group, Americans for Public Trust, alleged that Ocasio-Cortez tapped into her Member Representational Allowance and paid $3,700 to Juan D Gonzalez and $850 to Bombazo Dance Co Inc for “training” in December 2024, per the New York Post. Bombazo Dance Co Inc is a Bronx-based youth dance organization.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused of misusing taxpayer funds on dance training

On Tuesday, March 11, the watchdog sent a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and argued that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made the payments "in contravention of federal law and the standards of the House of Representatives".

Meanwhile, the Rep had dismissed concerns about the two payments from December 2024 and implied they were campaign expenses. The watchdog argued back that the funds were misappropriated, per the outlet.

Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X on Saturday, March 8, in response to a critique, "100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time."

Americans for Public Trust disputed the Ocasio-Cortez’s assertion that the payments were made with campaign money and pointed to a section in the list of House disbursements between October 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, according to the Post.

The watchdog mentioned in its complaint, "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."

It further added, "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."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced ethics complaints in the past

This is not the first time Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has faced an ethics complaint. She was probed over the 2021 Met Gala two years ago after it was revealed that she received a free ticket to attend the New York City charity event.

Moreover, the Rep also got a discounted rate for renting a white Brother Vellies dress designed by Aurora James that had the bright red words "Tax the Rich" and a handbag that she carried at the gala, per the New York Post.

Notably, Reps are not allowed under ethics rules to receive free gifts, barring some exceptions, but the Met Gala was not one of such instances.

Staffers "could not explain" the discount and the OCE recommended that the House Ethics Committee should conduct a further investigation if she had accepted "impermissible gifts", per the outlet.

Interestingly, she was also hit with a complaint, which was backed by the Heritage Foundation in 2023, claiming that she was "falsely accusing" and "defaming" Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the Libs of TikTok X account, per New York Post.

Back then, Ocasio-Cortez accused Raichik of lying in a 2022 post with her claim that a hospital in Boston was "offering 'gender affirming hysterectomies' for young girls".

But the Heritage Foundation accused Ocasio-Cortez of "lying and disseminating disinformation" about Raichik, per the outlet. "Rep Ocasio-Cortez's accusation that the tweet contained false information is itself outrightly false on its face," the complaint stated.

Internet slams Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for allegedly misusing taxpayer funds

Several social media users slammed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she was slapped with an ethics complaint by a watchdog, accusing her of misusing taxpayer funds on dance "training".

A user wrote on X, "They are going to get you. You will be gotten on something because there is no way your net value was made through anything you produced or did. You will be found out fully on all of your dealings, arrested and publicly shamed", while one added, "Care to provide a viable explanation how every member of congress has become filthy rich on 174K salary?"

A person also stated, "Regardless of filing type, it's clearly expenses linked to you. Not taxpayer money? Who paid the bills? This is probably just the tip of the iceberg. I think we need to dig in further", whereas one mentioned, "So.. you're wasting donor dollars for dance lessons? Is that legal in FEC finance laws?"

A user wrote, "You know a lot about being loud and wrong. You are an embarrassment", while one commented, "AOC is good at one thing and that’s lying! She’s as corrupt as the rest of them!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.