A watchdog has slapped an ethics criticism towards “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, accusing her of misusing taxpayer funds on dance “coaching.”
People for Public Belief, a non-public watchdog group that targets corruption, alleged that Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), 35, tapped into her Member Representational Allowance to shell out $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc” for what was described as “coaching” in December.
The watchdog on Tuesday despatched a criticism to the Workplace of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and argued that the rep made the funds in “contravention of federal legislation and the requirements of the Home of Representatives.”
Ocasio-Cortez had dismissed issues concerning the two December 2024 funds and seemingly implied they have been marketing campaign bills as a substitute, which the watchdog argued backs its case that the funds have been misappropriated.
“100% fallacious. None of that is taxpayer cash, that is an FEC submitting. Be loud and fallacious about one thing else. Attempt once more subsequent time,” she wrote on X Saturday in response to a critique.
The Submit was unable to seek out references to “Juan D Gonzalez” or “Bombazo Dance Co Inc” in Federal Election Fee information of Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional marketing campaign disbursements.
People for Public Belief disputed Ocasio-Cortez’s assertion that the funds have been made with marketing campaign money by pointing to a piece within the 1120-page listing of Home disbursements between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024.
“Consultant Ocasio-Cortez has made expenditures from her official workplace account that she herself contends ought to have been reported to the FEC, presumably as a result of they have been made for marketing campaign functions,” the watchdog wrote in its criticism.
“Whether it is revealed that Consultant Ocasio-Cortez has demonstrated a sample of utilizing her taxpayer-funded MRA to pay her marketing campaign bills, we additional request a full investigation be commenced by your workplace.”
Bombazo Dance Co Inc. is a Bronx-based youth dance group. Video posted on Bombazo Dance Co Inc.’s Fb web page confirmed the progressive darling banging on drums and dancing with patrons on the firm in December.
Particulars of the “Juan D Gonzalez” who acquired funds aren’t instantly clear.
Member Representational Allowance is a fund that the Home gives members to assist foot the invoice for official bills associated to workers compensation, journey, hire, printing paperwork, mail, gear and extra.
In fiscal yr 2023, the Home allotted roughly $810 million for the Member Representational Allowance, in accordance with the Congressional Analysis Service.
People for Public Belief is asking on the OCE to conduct a extra thorough overview of the congresswoman’s use of allowance funds.
The Submit contacted Ocasio-Cortez’s press crew for remark.
Ocasio-Cortez has confronted ethics complaints prior to now.
Two years in the past, she was probed over the 2021 Met Gala over revelations that she acquired a free ticket to attend the star-studded New York Metropolis charity occasion.
She additionally acquired a reduced charge for renting a white Brother Vellies gown designed by Aurora James that featured the brilliant crimson phrases “Tax the Wealthy” in addition to a purse that she carried on the gala.
Reps are restricted beneath ethics guidelines from receiving free items, barring sure exceptions, however the Met Gala was not one among them.
Staffers “couldn’t clarify” the low cost, and the OCE unanimously really useful that the Home Ethics Committee conduct additional investigation of whether or not she had accepted “impermissible items.”
The Bronx and Queens-based rep was additionally hit with a criticism backed by the Heritage Basis in 2023 claiming that she was “falsely accusing” and “defaming” Chaya Raichik, the girl behind the Libs of TikTok X account.
On the time, Ocasio-Cortez publicly accused Raichik of mendacity in a 2022 put up along with her declare {that a} hospital in Boston was “providing ‘gender affirming hysterectomies’ for younger women.”
The Heritage Basis accused the congresswoman of “mendacity and disseminating disinformation” about Raichik.
