A spokesperson for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has admitted the progressive Democrat knows she is flouting Congressional disclosure rules, admitting that she would only disclose her finances to the House before she’s issued a fine.
On Tuesday (August 23), Lauren Hitt, communication director for Ocasio-Cortez, reportedly told The Washington Examiner that the “committee provides a 30-day grace period before fines are levied. The Congresswoman plans to file before the period expires.”
Lawmakers in the lower chamber had until August 13 to submit their financial disclosures to the House Ethics Committee but hadn’t done so by August 25.
A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez indicated that the Congresswoman didn’t feel the rush to file the disclosure, given she still had nearly three weeks before she would incur a fine.
This isn’t the first time, Ocasio-Cortez has used the grace period to extend the date when she needs to make the financial disclosure — which becomes publicly available after the lawmaker submits it. In 2019, the Congresswoman avoided the measly $200 penalty for a late filing by making her disclosure the day the grace period ended.
Paul Kamenar, an attorney for conservative watchdog group the National Legal and Policy Center, queried whether Ocasio-Cortez shared the same cavalier attitude toward filing her taxes.
“Not only is she an admitted scofflaw — she’s a repeat offender,” Kamenar said, continuing, “One must wonder whether she also files her income tax returns past the deadlines.”
Yet, Ocasio-Cortez may be flouting her own morals, saying in April of this year that even the perception that a lawmaker is acting improperly regarding personal finances undermines America’s democracy.
She hasn’t shared that same belief regarding the disclosure — which all but 10 House Representatives have already submitted.
