Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign shelled out thousands of dollars on boutique hotels while she toured the country with Sen. Bernie Sanders earlier this year, according to newly surfaced Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
The spending spree coincided with her appearances at the high-profile “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies, where she and Sanders positioned themselves as crusaders against the billionaire class. The Washington Examiner first reported the findings.
Private Jets, Pricey Suites
Earlier this year, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders generated significant buzz, pulling in more than 300,000 attendees across 34 rallies in 20 states since kicking off their nationwide tour, according to Sanders.
But behind the scenes, their fight against “corporate greed” came with a lavish travel bill. While hammering the wealthy elite, both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were flying private to West Coast campaign rallies.
The luxury didn’t end in the air. Records show Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign dropped $3,508.92 at the Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas on March 25. Just days before, she joined Sanders for a rally in Vegas on March 20, railing against oligarchy.
Tucson, Salt Lake, and Beyond
Around the time of another “Fighting Oligarchy” stop in Arizona, her campaign paid The Leo Kent Hotel in Tucson $3,165.76, according to an April 25 filing.
In Utah, the expenses grew even steeper. On April 3, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders rallied in Salt Lake City. By the end of the month, her campaign had cut a check for $3,445.59 to the swanky Asher Adams Hotel.
The filings also list thousands in payments this year to CitizenM in California, Hotel Vermont, Hotel Renegade in Idaho, and Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Virginia.
A Familiar Pattern
This isn’t the first time Ocasio-Cortez’s lifestyle choices have raised eyebrows. She previously came under fire after breaking House rules to attend the Met Gala in a “Tax the Rich” dress and was ordered to pay back the costs.
Her critics say the latest filings show a widening gap between her fiery rhetoric and her personal choices. Meanwhile, her supporters point to the massive turnout numbers as proof her message is still resonating nationwide.
