A recent report suggests that Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) may be embroiled in an ethics scandal related to her marital status.
The Free Beacon reported on Wednesday that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has referred to her fiancé Riley Roberts as her spouse in four separate forms filed with the House Ethics Committee in 2023.
Andrew Kerr, the author of the piece, noted that the committee defines a spouse as someone to whom you are legally married; this is reflected 161 times in the House Ethics Manual.
NEW: Is AOC married?
Her office says no, but she's identified Riley Roberts as her "spouse" in four filings with the House Ethics Committee so far in 2023.
The committee has a strict definition of spouse — "someone to whom you are legally married."
— Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) September 13, 2023
Here is a better look at one of the files:
It appears that the public is being led to believe that AOC and her team have made a mistake in filling out forms rather than attempting to cheat the system.
Kerr reports the findings came as result of AOC’s overseas travels and points out something interesting suggesting a strong conflict of interest on AOC’s part.
Four legal filings submitted to the House Ethics Committee pertaining to AOC’s overseas travels in 2022 and 2023 suggest the pair have been legally married at least since Jan. 13, 2023. If that is the case, the “Squad” member can no longer leverage the so-called boyfriend loophole to evade public disclosure of his finances.
But AOC apparently does not want the rules to apply to her.
Kerr’s analysis suggests that her lack of enthusiasm for closing the boyfriend loophole is likely due to a perceived hypocrisy.
Despite establishing herself as a champion of congressional ethics, AOC has no interest in closing this loophole.
The legislation she introduced in May to ban her colleagues and their spouses from trading stocks?
Doesn’t apply to Roberts if they remain unmarried. Convenient.
AOC makes a big show out of not owning stocks or crypto. She says this is so she can do her job "as ethically and impartially as I can."
But what about Riley Roberts? Does he own stocks or crypto?
I've asked AOC's office several times since she got engaged. They won't say.
— Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) September 13, 2023
Many people on social media reacted to AOC’s statement with humorous comments.
Is this guy part of the patriarchy or did AOC grant him a pardon?
— David Condon (@ucanreadgood) September 13, 2023
Well, now how am I going to be mad she won't date me?
— John-Jacob Jingleheimer Smith (@Kihr____) September 13, 2023
Well, she wouldn't be the 1st member of The Squad to have dubious marrital status.
— Broodwars (@broodwars64) September 13, 2023
Did we ever think to ask if AOC is identifying as a married woman ???
— MarvinDorfler (@MarvinDorfler26) September 13, 2023
I don't know who has it worse, Prince Harry or this guy.
— Kelly (@countrygrl_99) September 13, 2023
iCYMI:
