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Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney attending the 2021 Met Gala. Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A senior Democratic politician in the United States is accused of exerting influence to receive an invitation to the New York Met Gala, considered the most famous event in the global fashion world.

On the 23rd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) investigated Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney, whose district is in New York.

According to the OCE investigation, in 2015, when Representative Maloney confirmed that she was excluded from the invitation list for the Met Gala to be held the following year, she contacted the director of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art to express her dissatisfaction.

It was reported that Representative Maloney mentioned her role in helping the Metropolitan Museum of Art receive various federal funds. Under pressure, the museum director eventually added Maloney to the invitation list.

The Met Gala is an annual event held to raise funds and donations for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It also serves as a promotional event marking the start of the exhibition hosted by the Costume Institute that year. Attendees of the Met Gala are required to dress according to the exhibition theme.

Scenes of celebrities from various fields such as culture, politics, and economics entering the Metropolitan Museum of Art dressed according to the theme are a subject of intense media coverage worldwide.

However, only those who purchase tickets costing tens of millions of won or have an invitation can step on the red carpet installed on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In the OCE investigation, Representative Maloney claimed she did not explicitly say to send an invitation. However, the OCE concluded that the organizers perceived it as pressure.

U.S. congressional rules and federal law prohibit members from coercing gifts, including invitations. Nevertheless, the NYT reported that despite the OCE’s conclusion, it seems unlikely that the House Ethics Committee will discipline Representative Maloney.

Meanwhile, Maloney, a 15-term senior member, lost in the party primary and did not run in the midterm elections held earlier this month. She plans to retire from politics at the end of this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.