Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces federal investigation after a watchdog group filed complaints alleging she misused nearly $19,000 in campaign funds to pay for psychiatric services disguised as leadership consulting.
Complaint Alleges Campaign Finance Violations
The National Legal and Policy Center filed joint complaints Friday with the Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Conduct. The Washington-based organization demands investigation into whether Ocasio-Cortez, her campaign committee, and treasurer Frank Llewellyn violated federal election law by paying Boston psychiatrist Dr. Brian Boyle $18,725 across four payments in 2025. Campaign finance records listed these expenses as “leadership training and consulting,” despite Boyle having no documented experience in leadership training. Federal law prohibits using campaign funds for personal use, with violations carrying fines and up to five years imprisonment.
AOC did it AGAIN and got caught spending $19K worth of campaign cash on KETAMINE THERAPY.
AFTER… AOC already got caught spending $50k worth of campaign cash on a Bad Bunny concert, high-end hotels, and catering in Puerto Rico. CHARGE HER pic.twitter.com/ipZnBFzAaS
— QUANTUM GUARD ™️ (@QuantumGuard17) April 18, 2026
The watchdog group’s counsel, Paul Kamenar, wrote that evidence suggests the payments were not for legitimate campaign purposes but rather personal psychiatric therapy for Ocasio-Cortez or her staff. The complaint requests the FEC impose penalties and asks the Office of Congressional Conduct to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which has subpoena power and disciplinary authority. Ocasio-Cortez previously discussed receiving therapy following the January 6 Capitol riots, claiming lawmakers “served in war” during the incident. Her campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Psychiatrist Specializes in Ketamine Therapy
Dr. Brian Boyle serves as chief psychiatric officer at Stella, a mental health clinic chain offering treatments including ketamine therapy. The Harvard-trained physician calls himself an “interventional psychiatrist” and specializes in treating depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Ketamine, a horse tranquilizer, gained notoriety after being linked to actor Matthew Perry’s death. Boyle’s clinic also provides stellate ganglion block treatments, an anesthetic procedure popular among wealthy clients. Kamenar noted Boyle’s specialties include treating narcissistic personality disorder, suggesting Ocasio-Cortez should use personal funds if she requires such psychiatric treatment.
What This Means
The complaint raises questions about campaign finance accountability and proper use of donor funds. If investigators determine the payments violated federal law, Ocasio-Cortez could face criminal penalties and be required to reimburse her campaign from personal funds. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of campaign spending practices among members of Congress. The House Ethics Committee’s involvement could lead to formal sanctions if the allegations prove credible. This investigation follows similar complaints against other lawmakers over improper use of campaign resources for personal benefit.