A government accountability nonprofit is urging the House of Representatives to investigate whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) improperly used her taxpayer-funded Member Representational Allowance (MRA) for expenses that may have violated federal law and House rules.
The nonprofit Americans for Public Trust (APT) sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) on Tuesday highlighting “several troubling expenses” from Ocasio-Cortez’s disbursements, reported Fox News.
The MRA is designated for official duties and is prohibited from being used for personal or campaign purposes. However, the progressive congresswoman is accused of using these funds for activities unrelated to her official responsibilities.
APT specifically pointed to payments of $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and another $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” both categorized as “training” expenses.
The organization argues that such expenses do not align with the intended use of the MRA.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the allegations on social media, rejecting claims that she misused taxpayer dollars. “100% wrong,” she posted on X.
APT’s Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland stated, “Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s troubling payments from her taxpayer-funded account for activities such as dance classes should be investigated.”
She emphasized that lawmakers must be held accountable for how they spend taxpayer funds.
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethics scrutiny. In 2023, the Heritage Foundation accused her of defamation regarding the creator of the Libs of TikTok account. Additionally, she was investigated for allegedly accepting improper gifts related to her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.