The U.S. House Committee on Ethics is investigating a complaint concerning Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
The committee in a statement on Wednesday confirmed the move, though it did not provide additional details on the topic of the investigation. It did confirm the Office of Congressional Ethics referred the matter to the committee in June. The Office of Congressional Ethics is a nonpartisan, independent entity that reviews misconduct allegations against House lawmakers and their staff.
The committee also noted it is extending the matter into 2023, though the move, and disclosing the extension, “does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.”
The New York lawmaker’s office said in a statement to USA TODAY that “The Congresswoman has always taken ethics incredibly seriously, refusing any donations from lobbyists, corporations, or other special interests.
“We are confident that this matter will be dismissed,” Ocasio-Cortez’s office added.
USA TODAY has reached out to the House Ethics Committee for additional information.
The committee’s acting chairwoman is Rep. Susan Wild, D-Penn., and its acting ranking member is Michael Guest, R-Miss. Other committee members include Democratic Reps. Dean Phillips, Minn.; Veronica Escobar, Texas; and Mondaire Jones, N.Y. Its Republican members include Reps. Dave Joyce, Ohio; John H. Rutherford, Fla.; and Kelly Armstrong, N.D.
The committee earlier this week found Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., benefitted financially while purchasing a cryptocurrency he promoted.
“While cryptocurrency promotion, particularly of a ‘meme coin,’ may be a novel issue before the committee, whether a member may promote an asset in which that member has a financial interest is not a novel question,” the committee wrote in a report.
The committee directed Cawthorn to pay $14,237.49 to charity. He planned to make donations to a spinal cord and paralysis treatment center and a gun-rights group, his spokesperson Micah Bock, told the Associated Press.
