Concerns Raised Over AOC Campaign Fund Disclosures

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is once again at the center of controversy, and this time the focus is on money—campaign money, to be exact. Federal Election Commission records show the New York Democrat made three payments in 2025 totaling $18,725 to Dr. Brian Boyle, a psychiatric specialist tied to a network of mental health clinics offering treatments that range from ketamine-assisted therapy to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The payments, broken down across March, May, and October, were officially labeled as “leadership training and consulting.” That description is now drawing scrutiny.

Critics argue the classification raises serious red flags. Under federal law, campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses. The FEC relies on what’s known as the “irrespective test”—essentially asking whether the expense would exist even if the individual were not a candidate. If the answer is yes, it could be a violation.

Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, didn’t mince words. He questioned both the nature of the payments and the qualifications behind them, noting that Dr. Boyle’s professional background does not align with traditional campaign consulting or leadership training. Kamenar suggested the spending “looks like yet another example of misuse of campaign contributions,” pointing to the possibility that the services rendered were personal rather than political.

The situation is fueling a broader narrative critics have long pushed—that controversial behavior among high-profile Democrats rarely results in consequences. Instead, it often fades into the background while political careers continue to advance.

Meanwhile, attention is also returning to Ocasio-Cortez’s spending patterns more broadly. Past reports have highlighted travel, accommodations, and event attendance that opponents argue paint a picture of a lawmaker enjoying high-end experiences while her district faces mounting challenges. Areas of Queens, particularly along Roosevelt Avenue, have been plagued by crime, including drug activity and organized extortion targeting local businesses.