By Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign committee quietly routed nearly $19,000 in 2025 to a Boston-based psychiatrist known for ketamine-assisted treatments, according to newly reviewed Federal Election Commission records—an unusual line item that is drawing scrutiny in both political and legal circles.
The payments, totaling $18,725, went to Dr. Brian Boyle, chief psychiatric officer at Stella Mental Health, a clinic network offering therapies for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety. In campaign filings, the expenditures were labeled broadly as “leadership training and consulting,” a description that has raised questions about the nature of the services provided, according to The New York Post.
FEC records show three disbursements over the course of the year: $11,550 in March 2025, followed by $2,800 in May and $4,375 in October. The congresswoman’s campaign did not respond to inquiries regarding who received the services, what they entailed, or how they fit within the stated purpose.
Boyle, a Harvard Medical School–trained psychiatrist, has built a reputation in the emerging field of interventional psychiatry, particularly through the use of ketamine—a drug originally developed as an anesthetic and sometimes referenced in veterinary settings—for mental health treatment. In public remarks, he has emphasized the drug’s potential, stating in one podcast, “I just saw the incredible power of what these treatments could do,” and adding, “It’s a ton of fun helping patients get better.”
Stella Mental Health also offers stellate ganglion blocks, an injection-based procedure designed to dampen the body’s stress response. The treatment has gained traction in recent years, particularly among patients coping with trauma.
Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat representing parts of the Bronx and Queens, has been an outspoken advocate for expanding research into controlled substances for therapeutic use. She has pushed for federal studies on psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA, first introducing amendments in 2019 and later co-sponsoring legislation that was enacted in 2023. In 2019, she wrote on social media, “It’s well past time we take drug use out of criminal consideration and into medical consideration.”
The Daily Caller noted that “the congresswoman has long pushed to expand psychedelic-assisted therapy research. She co-sponsored a bipartisan bill with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) that funded Pentagon studies on psychedelics for servicemembers with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, according to a press release from Crenshaw’s office. That legislation became law as part of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.”
The payments, however, have prompted criticism from watchdog groups who question whether campaign funds can be used for such purposes. Paul Kamenar, counsel for the National Legal and Policy Center, argued the expenditures may fall outside permissible uses. “While she describes these expenses as ‘leadership training,’ Dr. Boyle has no expertise in that area, unlike several Democratic campaign consultants,” Kamenar told The Post. “This looks like yet another example of misuse of campaign contributions.”
Medical experts, for their part, remain divided on ketamine’s expanding role. While some patients report significant improvements, others caution that the drug’s dissociative properties require careful oversight. One psychiatrist noted that improper administration can present risks, describing ketamine as “a strongly dissociative drug.”
It’s also not the first time that AOC has come under criticism for misusing campaign funds and other financial shenanigans. In 2023, the congresswoman was hit with an ethics investigation over her attendance at the 2021 Met Gala, where she wore a “Tax the Rich” dress. The Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” she may have accepted impermissible gifts, including the gown, accessories, and related services, in violation of House rules. Although she later reimbursed the costs, the payments were made only after the investigation began. The ethics office has recommended further review by the House Ethics Committee.
Neither Boyle nor the campaign responded to requests for comment. The payments and their stated purpose remain documented only through public FEC disclosures, leaving key questions about their intent and compliance unresolved.
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