According to a Wednesday statement, the House Ethics Committee is investigating Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York.

According to the committee, they received a referral on June 23 from the Office of Congressional Ethics. This office reviews allegations of misconduct. This meant that the majority of the body had decided that the matter was sufficiently important to refer to the committee, currently chaired and led by Democratic Rep. Susan Wild from Pennsylvania.

The committee pointed out that the committee had ordered the disclosure of their investigation because they had extended the time they were investigating the matter. It also noted that the panel hadn’t made a judgment on whether there had been any ethics violations. The committee also stated that they would “announce their course of action in the matter” next year after the 118th Congress convenes.

The investigation was not initiated by the committee. Lauren Hitt, Lauren Hitt’s spokeswoman, stated that she did not provide any further information.

Hitt stated that “the Congresswoman has always taken ethics extremely seriously, refusing any donations by lobbyists, corporations or other special interests.” We are certain that this matter will not be heard.

The investigation could have been prompted by a September 2021 complaint by the conservative American Accountability Foundation, in which the congresswoman was accused of accepting an illegal gift. She attended the 2021 Met Gala where many guests pay $35,000. Ocasio Cortez was invited as a Met guest and she did not have to pay for her ticket.

At the event, the congresswoman was seen wearing a dress with the words “Tax the Rich.” Hitt said that she was not allowed to keep the dress.

Ocasio-Cortez stated that she attended the event as a representative of Congress and that New York lawmakers are regularly invited to such events. Rep. Carolyn Maloney is a fellow New York Democrat who has attended several Met Galas. The Office of Congressional Ethics opened an investigation into Maloney’s solicitation of tickets to the event in 2016.

The House Rules state that members cannot accept gifts except for certain exceptions for charity functions or events with large attendance.

Ocasio-Cortez’s presence at the event, which was exclusive, violated these rules according to the group. The event is managed by Conde Nast Media Company, a for-profit media company.