Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics (D-N.Y.). In a statement released on Wednesday, the committee acknowledged the action, but it made no further mention of the subject of the probe. It did reveal that the case was reported to the committee in June by the Office of Congressional Ethics.
A nonpartisan, independent organisation called the Office of Congressional Ethics investigates accusations of misbehaviour against House members and their staff. The committee also stated that it will continue to monitor the situation through 2023, adding that this decision and its disclosure “does not itself suggest that any infringement has occurred, or reflect any judgement on behalf of the Committee.”
We are sure that this case will be dropped, the office of New York politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement to USA TODAY. “The Congresswoman has always taken ethics extremely seriously, refusing any gifts from lobbyists, businesses, or other special interests.” For further information, USA TODAY has contacted the House Ethics Committee. Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania serves as the committee’s acting chairwoman, and Michael Guest of Mississippi serves as the committee’s acting ranking member.
Democratic Representatives Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Veronica Escobar of Texas, and Mondaire Jones of New York are also on the committee. Reps. Dave Joyce from Ohio, John H. Rutherford from Florida, and Kelly Armstrong from North Dakota are among its Republican members. Earlier this week, the committee discovered that Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-North Carolina, benefited financially from buying a cryptocurrency he championed. The committee noted in a report that while the marketing of cryptocurrencies, particularly “meme coins,” may be a novel issue, the question of whether a member can promote an asset in which the member has a financial stake is not new. Cawthorn was ordered by the committee to donate $14,237.49 to charity. His publicist Micah Bock told the Associated Press that he intended to donate money to a facility that treats paralysis and spinal cord injuries as well as a group that supports gun rights.
