NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) and Aurora James attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
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The House Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) “may have accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021,” according to documents released on Thursday.
In December, the bipartisan panel disclosed that it was investigating Ocasio-Cortez after receiving a referral from the nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics. But it did not provide a reason. At the time, the congresswoman’s office declined to share details about the inquiry, citing the ongoing investigation.
While the report was published Thursday, the House Committee on Ethics will continue to review the matter. Unlike the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, that 10-member panel is empowered to subpoena and sanction House members.
Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In February, her spokesperson told Forbes that the lawmaker was sure nothing would come of the investigation. “We’re confident the Congresswoman complied with all applicable ethics rules and that the inquiry will ultimately be dismissed,” said Communications Director Lauren Hitt.
This story is developing and will be updated.