AOC Campaign Paid $19K to Ketamine-Linked Psychiatrist, Labeled It "Leadership Training"

Payments to Boston doctor raise questions about use of campaign funds for personal expenses

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:05am

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign paid a Boston-based psychiatrist known for ketamine therapy nearly $19,000 across three payments in 2025, listing the expenses in Federal Election Commission filings as "leadership training and consulting." The psychiatrist, Dr. Brian Boyle, is not a leadership consultant but rather a Harvard-trained interventional psychiatrist who specializes in unorthodox methods for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety. It's unclear what the sessions consisted of or who participated, and neither Ocasio-Cortez's campaign nor Dr. Boyle responded to requests for comment.

Why it matters

The payments raise questions about whether Ocasio-Cortez used campaign funds for personal expenses, which would violate federal campaign finance laws. While Ocasio-Cortez has been vocal about mental health and drug policy reform, the labeling of these payments as "leadership training" appears to obscure the nature of the services provided.

The details

The payments to Dr. Boyle landed in three installments: $11,550 in March 2025, $2,800 in May 2025, and $4,375 in October 2025, for a total of $18,725 in campaign donor money. Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, criticized the expenses, stating that "using her campaign contributions for what appears to be an expense for personal use violates federal campaign finance laws." Kamenar also noted that Boyle has no expertise in the area of "leadership training" that Ocasio-Cortez claimed to have hired him for.

  • The payments were made across three installments in 2025: $11,550 in March, $2,800 in May, and $4,375 in October.

The players

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A U.S. Representative from New York's 14th congressional district and a member of the Democratic Party.

Dr. Brian Boyle

A Harvard-trained interventional psychiatrist who specializes in unorthodox methods for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety, including ketamine therapy. He serves as the chief psychiatric officer at Stella, a clinic that also offers treatments like a stellate ganglion block.

Paul Kamenar

Counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog group.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Paul Kamenar, Counsel, National Legal and Policy Center

“While she describes these expenses as 'leadership training,' Dr. Boyle has no expertise in that area, unlike several Democratic campaign consultants.”

— Paul Kamenar, Counsel, National Legal and Policy Center

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether the Federal Election Commission or other authorities will investigate the nature of the payments from Ocasio-Cortez's campaign to Dr. Boyle and whether they violated any campaign finance laws.

The takeaway

This case raises concerns about the potential misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, even by politicians who have built a reputation for transparency and accountability. The labeling of the payments as "leadership training" appears to obscure the true nature of the services provided, underscoring the importance of clear and accurate reporting of campaign expenditures.