Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing renewed scrutiny following a recent House Committee on Ethics report that found inconsistencies in how she identified her longtime partner, Riley Roberts, in official congressional filings. The revelations involve conflicting documentation over Roberts’s status and raise concerns about potential rule violations and transparency issues.
The controversy centers around filings related to Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the 2021 Met Gala, an event that has landed her in ethical hot water before. While applying to attend the Gala—a high-profile, celebrity-laden event—AOC reportedly listed Roberts as her “spouse” on documents filed with the House of Representatives. However, according to the Ethics Committee report released in July 2025, the couple was not legally married at the time.
This contradiction matters because congressional ethics rules have specific provisions regarding gifts and benefits extended to members and their spouses. In this case, Roberts’s designation as a spouse helped justify his inclusion under exceptions to the House Gift Rule, which allows members to bring spouses or close relatives to certain events without violating gift limits.
But the committee found that the New York congresswoman listed Roberts as her spouse only when it was advantageous. On financial disclosure forms filed with the House—the same forms that require detailed reporting of a spouse’s financial interests—Roberts was not identified as such. That discrepancy potentially allowed AOC to bypass transparency requirements that would have mandated disclosure of her partner’s investments, assets, and liabilities.
“The Committee further notes that at the same time Representative Ocasio-Cortez was seeking to take advantage of exceptions to the Gift Rule only applicable to spouses and or certain relatives, she was not disclosing Mr. Roberts’s financial interests as is required of Members who are legally married,” the report stated.
At the heart of the concern is the question of whether Ocasio-Cortez used the term “spouse” selectively to access certain privileges while sidestepping others. In particular, the financial disclosures that would have been triggered by a spousal designation could have revealed whether Roberts holds stock in companies doing business in AOC’s district or elsewhere—an important issue, given the congresswoman’s vocal opposition to congressional stock trading.
The ethics panel pointed to other benefits Roberts received that are normally restricted to official spouses of lawmakers. Notably, Roberts was issued a congressional spouse pin as early as 2019, when Ocasio-Cortez first took office. This pin allows access to restricted areas in the U.S. Capitol and is typically reserved for legal spouses of members of Congress.
“Mr. Roberts and the Congresswoman have been together since 2014, and have lived together since 2016,” the committee stated. “Mr. Roberts has had a spouse pin since the Congresswoman entered Congress in 2019.”
Despite legal and official ambiguity about their marital status, the Ethics Committee seemed to acknowledge the long-term nature of the relationship. The panel noted that, in the context of the Met Gala application, the broader interpretation of “spouse” was accepted by the Committee to mean the individual with whom a member has chosen to share their life.
“It is clear that the term ‘spouse,’ as utilized in this former rule and as seemingly accepted by the Committee by expanding ‘spouse or dependent’ to any guest, was intended to allow a Member of Congress to bring the individual that they’ve decided to share their lives with to a charity event, regardless of whether they had taken steps to bring the law or religion into their relationship,” the report said.
This isn’t the first time Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 Met Gala appearance has led to an ethics investigation. A previous probe found that she failed to pay fair market value for her designer dress, accessories, and related services tied to the event. That resulted in her being ordered to pay an additional $2,700 to vendors to cover outstanding costs and resolve any appearance of receiving improper gifts.
Although the latest report is critical, it notes that Ocasio-Cortez cooperated with the investigation and is expected to bring the matter to a close once all remaining payments are made.
Interestingly, the report also took aim at Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who extended personal invitations to both AOC and Roberts for the Gala. The Ethics Committee suggested that the personal nature of the invitations further complicated the issue, as it added a layer of informality to what are otherwise heavily scrutinized interactions between elected officials and outside entities.
The timing of the report is politically charged. At 35, Ocasio-Cortez is viewed as one of the most prominent progressive figures in American politics. She has been actively touring the country with Sen. Bernie Sanders on their “Fighting Oligarchy” campaign and is frequently mentioned as a potential future presidential candidate.
Although she insists her focus remains on serving her constituents in New York’s 14th congressional district—which she has consistently carried with wide margins—there’s growing speculation about her next move. Political insiders and opponents alike are watching closely.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) recently told Fox News that he anticipates AOC will soon challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a Democratic primary.
“Frankly, I’m looking forward to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez primarying him very soon, and seeing him ran out of town because no one, no one believes what he says,” Burchett stated.
Whether or not she runs for Senate in 2026—or even eyes a presidential bid in 2028—remains to be seen. What’s clear is that questions about transparency, ethics, and accountability will likely follow her every step of the way.
So, what’s the issue that’s sparked this renewed investigation into one of Congress’s most high-profile figures? AOC called her fiancé her husband—except when it might have cost her politically.
