A few years ago at the swanky Met Gala, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines by wearing a gown that said “Tax The Rich.” CNN noted at the time, “Dressed in a white off-the-shoulder gown by Brooklyn-based designer brand Brother Vellies, the New York politician revealed the statement, scrawled in bold lettering on the back of her dress, as she ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Making her Met Gala debut, Ocasio-Cortez completed the look with trademark gold hoops and a single pink flower pinned into her hair bun.
Speaking to reporters at the event, she explained why she had brought her message to the Met Gala, an event attended by many of Hollywood’s biggest — and wealthiest — stars.
‘When we talk about supporting working families and when we talk about having a fair tax code, oftentimes this conversation is happening among working and middle class people (on) the senate floor. I think it’s time we bring all classes into the conversation,’ she continued”
At the time, the congresswoman said, “the medium is the message” in an Instagram post bragging about the dress.
It turns out that the medium is, indeed, the message, but that the message is that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a corrupt grifter who grabs headlines by attacking the rich while taking their money.
The New York Times reports, “Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made international headlines when she wore a white gown scrawled with the words ‘Tax the Rich’ to the star-studded Met Gala in New York in September 2021. But now, congressional investigators have found ‘substantial reason to believe’ that she might have violated House ethics rules and perhaps federal law by accepting gifts associated with the event.
At issue are the payments for the rental of the dress, jewelry, shoes and bag she wore to the event, as well as the costs of her makeup, hair, transportation and about $5,000 for a share of rooms at the Carlyle Hotel, where she prepared for the gala.
Her campaign did eventually pay for all the costs from her personal accounts, as required by law. But it did so only after the House Ethics Committee began an inquiry into the issue in March 2022, an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics found.
‘It appears several thousands of dollars’ worth of services may have remained unpaid’ had it not been for the ethics office beginning its review, the office found.
One opinion columnist explained the congresswoman’s grift and motivation, ” AOC really wanted to attend the September 2021 Met ball — a charity event for its Costume Institute, yes, but also the world’s number one social event for the rich, famous and beautiful.
But $35,000 tickets for two people (she wanted her boyfriend to go, too) would cost nearly six figures (if the exclusive ball even approves you). Members of Congress can attend nonprofit events, but the Met normally doesn’t invite all of Congress, and this isn’t AOC’s district.
So AOC came by the biggest part of her Met Gala grift the old-fashioned way: trading off the elected position with which Bronx and Queens voters entrusted her.
AOC snagged two free tickets (after much prodding by her campaign staffer) by cozying up to Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who runs this show for the Met. AOC’s written invitation specifically informed her that she and her boyfriend were ‘guests of Vogue.’”
Ocasio-Cortez’s wealthy friends have so far kept their lips sealed when the Congressional Ethics Committee asked them about the dress. The New York Post said, “An executive at the left-leaning public relations firm BerlinRosen stonewalled congressional investigators probing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ notorious 2021 Met Gala appearance, and could face a subpoena.
Janna Pea, a BerlinRosen executive vice president, along with designer Aurora James and the Brother Vellies brand behind the famous ‘Tax the Rich’ couture gown AOC wore to the party all failed to cooperate in the probe.
Pea was the publicist for Brother Vellies and sent the AOC campaign a bill in September 2021 for $2,283,93 for the gown and handbag rental along with a shoe purchase for the party, the report said.
The independent Office of Congressional Ethics, in a report issued Thursday, recommended the House Ethics Committee continue the investigation after it found that the socialist firebrand likely received “impermissible gifts” associated with her attendance at the September 2021 gala.”
“In 2021, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was invited to and attended the Met Gala with Mr. Roberts. As part of her attendance, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was provided with a couture dress, handbag, shoes, and jewelry. She also received hair, makeup, transportation, and ready-room services. Riley Roberts received a bowtie and shoes in advance of the event,” the report states according to Fox News. “While Rep. Ocasio-Cortez appears to have now paid for the rental value of the attire she wore to the Met Gala and for the goods and services she and her partner received in connection with this September 2021 event, payment for these goods and services did not occur until after the OCE contacted her in connection with this review.”
The ethics office contended that Ocasio-Cortez may have not paid for “several thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and services provided to her.”
For AOC it looks like it’s attacking the rich while taking their money, so long as they are liberal and get her into events for the elite, all the way down.
This article originally appeared on New Conservative Post. Used with Permission.
