Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) listed her fiance on multiple disclosure forms submitted to the House Ethics Committee, despite the fact that the couple had not been legally married.
On several disclosure forms regarding overseas travel between 2020 and 2023, the “Squad’ member listed her fiance Riley Roberts as her “spouse”.
The Washington Free Beacon first reported the forms which were filed at the House Ethics Committee. A spouse is defined as “someone with whom you are legally wed.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s office has not responded to our request for comment. Lauren Hitt, Press Secretary at the Beacon, told the Beacon Roberts and Ocasio Cortez were “not legally married”, but “House Ethics recognizes the term spouse as extending to long-term relationships.”
Roberts’ financial records would have to be disclosed if he were legally recognized as Ocasio Cortez’s spouse.
Ocasio-Cortez will announce her engagement in May 2022 to her longtime boyfriend. They met in a Boston University coffee shop when they were both students.
Earlier this summer, the House Office of Congressional Ethics stated that it had “substantial reasons to believe” Ocasio Cortez accepted tickets as gifts during her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala.
According to a report by the Office of Congressional Ethics, Ocasio Cortez is accused of receiving an “impermissible gift associated with her attendance at Met Gala 2021”, which could have violated House Rules, Standards of Conduct, and Federal Law.
Last month, the Congresswoman demanded the Department of Justice to target Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for his relationship with Republican megadonors and others from whom she claimed he had benefited financially.
