March 7, 2019

EXCLUSIVE — A conservative group that filed a complaint with the FEC alleging Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign may have illegally funneled thousands of dollars through an allied PAC to boyfriend Riley Roberts on Thursday lodged a fresh complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics. The new filing also concerns the famous congresswoman’s boyfriend, but focuses on his use of a congressional email account. The Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a political nonprofit, alleges in the complaint that the New York Democratic lawmaker used her newly found congressional privileges in an unethical manner when she set up the House email address for Roberts. “This Complaint alleges Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez improperly converted U.S. House resources to her non-official, personal use by obtaining an official ‘@mail.house.gov’ e-mail address for her boyfriend, despite the fact he was not employed by her congressional office,” reads a line from the complaint obtained by Fox News. “Moreover, it appears she obtained the e-mail address for him by falsely designating him a ‘staff’ member.” Attorneys for the foundation allege that Ocasio-Cortez violated restrictions on personal use of House services and equipment—as outlined in the House Ethics Manual. They maintain that the provision of an official House-based email address for Roberts is a violation of rules that prevent outside individuals from having an official account. “To my surprise, no one else had acted on this information,” foundation attorney Dan Backer told Fox News, “and while media coverage of misconduct is good, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] has to be held accountable.” “On this matter, only OCE [Office of Congressional Ethics] has the investigative authority to do so.” Officials for Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the congresswoman made public statements last month when news of Roberts’ email account surfaced saying the account was given so he could have access to her calendar. “Congressional spouses get Gcal access all the time. Next time check your facts before you tweet nonsense,” she tweeted. Asked about the arrangement last month, David O’Boyle, the spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, told Fox News: “From time to time, at the request of members, spouses and partners are provided House email accounts for the purposes of viewing the member’s calendar.” But Jason Chaffetz, former GOP chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Ocasio-Cortez’ claims don’t stack up. Click here to read the full news story.