If Republicans and conservatives have taken anything away from watching Democrats, it’s this: questionable behavior rarely seems to carry consequences. More often than not, it’s brushed aside—or even followed by greater prominence. Criticism from within the party is scarce, and controversy doesn’t appear to slow careers the way it might elsewhere.
From personal scandals to campaign finance questions, the pattern, critics argue, is one of accountability taking a back seat. Now, that scrutiny is turning toward Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as questions emerge about potential financial improprieties tied to her campaign.
According to records from the Federal Election Commission, Dr. Brian Boyle received three payments from the Congresswoman in 2025. In March, he was paid $11,550; in May, he received $2,800; and in October, he received $4,375, bringing the total to $18,725. Dr. Boyle serves as the Chief Psychiatric Officer for Stella, a chain of mental health clinics. Some of the therapies offered by Stella, which may sound reminiscent of experiences related to extraterrestrials, include ketamine-assisted therapy (also known as Spravato, which is an FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray), transcranial magnetic stimulation, and stellate ganglion blocks.
But this is where the issue could become more serious for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Federal Election Commission rules prohibit candidates from using campaign funds for personal expenses, applying what is known as the “irrespective test” to determine whether spending crosses the line.
In this case, Ocasio-Cortez reported payments to Dr. Boyle as “leadership training and consulting,” a classification now drawing scrutiny.
Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, said in a statement that the expenses raise questions and may not meet the standard required under federal guidelines, bluntly noted:
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. While she describes these expenses as ‘leadership training,’ Dr. Boyle has no expertise in that area, unlike several Democratic campaign consultants. This looks like yet another example of misuse of campaign contributions.
And never mind that this socialist loves capitalism for herself because ‘I get nice things’ – all while railing against people like herself who make up the 10 percent of American society.
Many of us on the right have always suspected that AOC has some eccentric tendencies, given her Democratic Socialist viewpoints. Are her recent expenditures simply reinforcing what we’ve suspected all along? Paul Kamenar may not be a doctor, but his claims about “narcissistic personality disorders” could suggest that she might benefit from the services of Dr. Boyle.
If these allegations hold any truth, perhaps Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should be wary of AOC potentially challenging him for his seat, which could once again illustrate the idea that Democrats tend to succeed despite their failures.