Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces a new ethics complaint over alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars for dance lessons and other personal expenses, while her attempts to dismiss the accusations have only deepened scrutiny into her financial conduct.
Quick Takes
- Americans for Public Trust filed an ethics complaint against AOC for allegedly using her Member Representational Allowance for dance lessons and other non-official expenses.
- Specific payments include $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.” for “training.”
- Ocasio-Cortez claimed on social media that the expenses were campaign-related and not taxpayer funds, but no corresponding FEC filings have been found.
- This is not the first ethics complaint against the congresswoman, who previously faced scrutiny over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala.
- The watchdog group argues these payments violate federal law and House standards that prohibit using official funds for personal or campaign purposes.
Watchdog Group Demands Investigation
Americans for Public Trust, a government accountability nonprofit, has called for a formal House investigation into Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s use of her taxpayer-funded member allowance. In a letter sent to the Office of Congressional Ethics, the organization questioned what they described as “several troubling expenses” from AOC’s official disbursements. The payments in question include $3,700 to an individual named “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” a Bronx-based youth dance organization, with both expenses listed as “training” in House disbursement records.
According to House rules, each member of Congress receives a Member Representational Allowance (MRA) specifically designated for official duties such as staff compensation, office expenses, and official travel. These funds cannot legally be used for personal benefits or campaign activities. The complaint alleges that Ocasio-Cortez’s expenditures fall outside the permissible use of these taxpayer dollars, potentially constituting a serious violation of both federal law and congressional ethical standards.
More waste, fraud, and abuse…
CC: @DOGE, @ElonMusk https://t.co/K3jJyc0mXq
— Caitlin Sutherland (@CaitlinAPT) March 11, 2025
AOC’s Response Raises More Questions
When confronted about the allegations on social media, Ocasio-Cortez quickly dismissed the claims. “100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time,” the congresswoman responded online. However, her defense has only intensified scrutiny, as Americans for Public Trust and media outlets including the New York Post report they could find no evidence of these expenses in her Federal Election Commission filings, contradicting her assertion that these were campaign expenses.
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
Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, calling for a thorough investigation into Ocasio-Cortez’s spending practices. “Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s troubling payments from her taxpayer funded account for activities such as dance classes should be investigated,” Sutherland stated. The identity of “Juan D Gonzalez” remains unclear, adding another layer of uncertainty to the disputed expenditures.
Pattern of Ethical Concerns
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethical scrutiny during her congressional tenure. In 2021, she was the subject of an ethics probe related to her attendance at the Met Gala, where questions arose about the acceptance of gifts and whether proper protocols were followed. More recently, the Heritage Foundation filed a complaint accusing her of defaming Chaya Raichik, the creator of the Libs of TikTok social media account.
Americans for Public Trust is urging the Office of Congressional Ethics to conduct a comprehensive review of Ocasio-Cortez’s use of her allowance funds. The organization’s complaint specifically requests investigation into whether the congresswoman has established a pattern of using taxpayer money for campaign or personal expenses, which would constitute a serious breach of public trust and potentially violate multiple regulations governing the conduct of elected officials.
