Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Accused of ‘Misusing’ Campaign Funds Over $19K Therapy Expense

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing a formal complaint alleging that she misused nearly $19,000 in campaign funds to pay a psychiatrist who specializes in ketamine therapy.

The National Legal and Policy Center filed a joint complaint last Friday with the Federal Elections Commission and the Office of Congressional Conduct. The DC-based government watchdog group has demanded an investigation into AOC, her campaign committee, and its treasurer, Frank Llewellyn.

The complaint alleges that payments totaling close to $19,000 were wrongfully listed under "leadership training and consulting" in campaign filings. The watchdog group is asking enforcement agencies to determine whether money paid to psychiatrist Dr. Brian Boyle served a legitimate political purpose or was fraudulently misclassified despite being used for personal mental health care, in potential violation of federal law.

The complaint followed an exclusive report by the New York Post published last week. According to the outlet, which cited Federal Election Commission records, AOC's campaign paid Boyle $11,550 in March 2025, another $2,800 in May, and $4,375 in October, for a total of $18,725. Details about what the sessions involved and who participated remain unclear.

The group's counsel, Paul Kamenar, wrote in the complaint, "There is reason to believe that AOC's use of campaign funds to pay for a psychiatrist who has no experience in 'leadership training' was not for a 'bona fide campaign or political purpose,' but rather for personal psychiatric therapy for AOC or her campaign staff."

Kamenar also took direct aim at the Democrat over the alleged personal use of federal campaign funds. "While I can understand why AOC would spend $18,000 for a shrink whose specialties include narcissistic personality disorders, using her campaign contributions for what appears to be an expense for personal use violates federal campaign finance laws," he said, per the Post.

He further noted that while AOC's campaign described the expense as leadership training, Dr. Boyle had no documented expertise in that area, unlike several Democratic campaign consultants. "This looks like yet another example of misuse of campaign contributions," Kamenar added.

Boyle, who studied at Harvard, identifies as an "interventional psychiatrist" and focuses on unconventional approaches to treating conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has previously spoken openly about her own mental health. Following the January 6 Capitol riots, she confirmed she had entered therapy. "Oh yeah, I'm doing therapy," she said during a 2021 appearance on Latino USA, describing the day as "an extraordinarily traumatizing event." She recalled hiding in a bathroom as police banged on the door, fearing for her life. "I've had to take a beat," she said.

While Ocasio-Cortez and others have spoken positively about the potential of treatments like ketamine for conditions such as PTSD and depression, doctors have cautioned that it remains a powerful hallucinogen with the potential to trigger psychosis in some individuals.

AOC's campaign has not responded to requests for comment.