Remember that viral moment when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a white gown with bold red “Tax the Rich” lettering at the 2021 Met Gala?
It caused a stir online and across cable news — but now, years later, it’s caught the attention of Congress too.
A new report from the House Ethics Committee says AOC needs to pay up for that night — or potentially face disciplinary action.
The $3,000 Met Gala Bill She Still Owes
According to the newly released 26-page report, the committee found that AOC received improper gifts linked to her appearance at the exclusive New York City fashion event.
The panel is now asking her to repay over $3,000 to resolve the issue.
That figure includes the fair market value of her custom Brother Vellies dress, accessories, and the ticket cost for her then-fiancé, Riley Roberts, who attended the Gala with her.
If she pays what’s owed, the committee says the matter will be considered closed.
A Dress That Sparked a Political Firestorm
Back in 2021, AOC’s appearance at the Met Gala made major headlines — not just because of the dress’s political message, but because she was a sitting congresswoman attending a $35,000-per-ticket event.
She had been invited as a guest of Anna Wintour, the longtime editor of Vogue, who reportedly even told the designer to dress AOC for the night.
While her team did pay some money for the rental — about $990 in total — the Ethics Committee noted that the real fair market value of the items was over $3,700.
That includes the gown, jewelry, shoes, handbag, and floral crown.
The dress rental alone was worth around $2,900, but AOC’s team only paid $300.
The Ethics Committee Weighs In
The committee didn’t accuse Ocasio-Cortez of willfully breaking the rules, but made it clear that she still violated House gift rules and should take responsibility for the delay in payments.
“The conduct was inconsistent with House Rules,” the report stated.
“Even though the violations were not intentional, the gifts were impermissible, and the payments were late.”
To avoid further action, AOC is expected to pay $2,733 for the outfit rentals and $250 to cover her partner’s ticket.
If she doesn’t, the committee could escalate the issue — possibly recommending a reprimand, censure, or additional fines.
Staff Missteps Also Under Scrutiny
The report also pointed to staffing issues as a contributing factor.
According to investigators, AOC’s team relied too heavily on designers and vendors to keep her compliant with ethics rules.
In several instances, payments weren’t made until the investigation was already underway.
Some of the staffers involved have since left her office.
Still, the panel acknowledged that her team did try to negotiate prices down and keep costs minimal — but that wasn’t enough to avoid the ethics complications.
A Repeat Warning
This isn’t the first time AOC has been told to cover the costs related to the 2021 Met Gala.
In 2022, she was previously asked to repay some expenses, but the new report suggests additional gaps remained.
Her office has not commented publicly on the latest findings, and it remains unclear whether she will pay the final amount recommended by the panel.