1776Reporting
A government watchdog has filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), accusing her of misusing taxpayer money on dance “training.”
Americans for Public Trust, a group focused on exposing political corruption, alleges that Ocasio-Cortez used her congressional budget to pay $3,700 to “Juan D Gonzalez” and $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc” for what was listed as “training” in December.
The organization sent a formal complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) on Tuesday, arguing that these payments violated federal law and House regulations.
Ocasio-Cortez Denies Allegations
Ocasio-Cortez dismissed concerns about the December 2024 payments, implying they were campaign expenses rather than taxpayer-funded.
“100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time,” she posted on X in response to criticism.
However, records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) do not show any payments to “Juan D Gonzalez” or “Bombazo Dance Co Inc” under her campaign’s disbursements. Americans for Public Trust pointed to a House disbursement report covering October to December 2024, which listed the transactions.
The watchdog stated in its complaint: “Representative Ocasio-Cortez has made expenditures from her official office account that she herself contends should have been reported to the FEC, presumably because they were made for campaign purposes.”
They further called for an investigation into whether Ocasio-Cortez had a pattern of using taxpayer funds for campaign-related expenses.
What Is Bombazo Dance Co Inc.?
Bombazo Dance Co Inc. is a youth dance organization based in the Bronx. A video posted on its Facebook page shows Ocasio-Cortez playing drums and dancing with patrons at the company in December. The identity of “Juan D Gonzalez” and the purpose of his payment remain unclear.
The Member Representational Allowance (MRA) is a congressional budget meant for official expenses such as staff salaries, travel, office rent, printing, and mailing. In 2023, the House allocated about $810 million for this fund, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Americans for Public Trust insists the OCE must review the congresswoman’s spending of these funds.
A History of Ethics Complaints
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced scrutiny over ethics concerns.
In 2021, she was investigated for attending the Met Gala after accepting a free ticket, which House ethics rules prohibit unless certain exceptions apply. She also received a discounted rate for renting a Brother Vellies gown that read “Tax the Rich” in bold red letters, along with a matching handbag. Ethics officials noted her staff “could not explain” the discount, leading the OCE to recommend further investigation into whether she accepted “impermissible gifts.”
In 2023, the Heritage Foundation filed a separate complaint against her, claiming she falsely accused and defamed Chaya Raichik, the creator of the Libs of TikTok account. Ocasio-Cortez had publicly accused Raichik of lying when she claimed in 2022 that a Boston hospital was offering “gender-affirming hysterectomies” to minors. The Heritage Foundation argued the congresswoman was the one spreading “disinformation.”
As the latest ethics complaint unfolds, pressure mounts on Ocasio-Cortez to clarify the spending and whether the funds were truly intended for official congressional use or campaign purposes. The OCE’s response to the watchdog’s request for an investigation could determine the next steps in the case.
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