New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces a serious ethics complaint for allegedly using taxpayer funds to pay for dance lessons and other personal expenses, raising questions about her compliance with federal law and House standards.
Top Takeaways
- Americans for Public Trust filed an ethics complaint against AOC for allegedly misusing her Member Representational Allowance for personal expenses, including $4,550 for dance training
- AOC claimed on social media the expenses were campaign-related and not taxpayer funded, but House disbursement records contradict her statement
- The payments in question include $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.” described as “training”
- Federal law prohibits the use of the Member Representational Allowance for personal or campaign-related expenses
- This is not AOC’s first ethics complaint, as she previously faced scrutiny over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala
Watchdog Group Demands Investigation
Americans for Public Trust, a government accountability nonprofit, has called for a House probe into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s use of her taxpayer-funded member allowance. The group sent a formal letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics questioning what they described as “several troubling expenses” from AOC’s disbursements. According to the watchdog organization, these expenditures appear to violate both federal law and House standards, which strictly regulate how congressional funds can be used.
The complaint specifically highlights payments totaling $4,550 that were allegedly made from Ocasio-Cortez’s Member Representational Allowance (MRA). These include $3,700 to an individual named “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.” Both payments were categorized as “training” in official records. The Bombazo Dance Co is a Bronx-based youth dance organization where Ocasio-Cortez has been seen participating in activities.
“Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s troubling payments from her taxpayer funded account for activities such as dance classes should be investigated,” said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust. The watchdog group emphasized that federal regulations prohibit using the MRA for personal expenses or campaign activities.
More waste, fraud, and abuse…
CC: @DOGE, @ElonMusk https://t.co/K3jJyc0mXq
— Caitlin Sutherland (@CaitlinAPT) March 11, 2025
AOC’s Disputed Response
When confronted about these allegations on social media, Ocasio-Cortez responded forcefully, claiming the reports were “100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time.” However, this defense has only intensified scrutiny, as Americans for Public Trust and media outlets have found no corresponding Federal Election Commission filings that would support her claim that these were campaign expenses properly reported to the FEC.
The New York Post reported finding no evidence of these expenses in AOC’s FEC filings, directly contradicting her public statement. House disbursement records, which are publicly available, clearly list the payments as coming from her congressional allowance. This discrepancy has led Americans for Public Trust to suggest that Ocasio-Cortez essentially admitted to improperly using taxpayer funds for campaign purposes in her attempt to defend herself.
100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 8, 2025
The Member Representational Allowance Explained
Each member of Congress receives a Member Representational Allowance to cover official expenses related to their congressional duties. This taxpayer-funded account is intended to pay for legitimate expenses such as staff compensation, office supplies, constituent communications, and official travel. Federal law and House rules explicitly prohibit using these funds for personal expenses, campaign activities, or any purpose that might bring discredit to the House of Representatives.
“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,” wrote the Americans for Public Trust in the complaint.
This isn’t the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethics scrutiny. In 2023, she was investigated by the House Ethics Committee regarding her attendance at the Met Gala in 2021, where questions arose about the acceptance of impermissible gifts. She was also recently accused by the Heritage Foundation of defaming Chaya Raichik, creator of the Libs of TikTok social media account. These recurring ethics complaints have raised questions about the congresswoman’s understanding of or compliance with congressional ethics rules.
Potential Consequences
If the Office of Congressional Ethics determines that further investigation is warranted, the matter could be referred to the House Ethics Committee for a more formal probe. Potential consequences for misusing congressional funds could range from repayment of the improper expenses to formal censure by the House of Representatives. The complaint comes at a sensitive time, as trust in government institutions remains low among many Americans.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about congressional accountability and the proper use of taxpayer resources. As elected officials, members of Congress are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards and to be transparent about how they use public funds. Americans for Public Trust has indicated they intend to pursue this complaint vigorously, seeking a full investigation into whether this represents a broader pattern of misuse of congressional resources.
