Lawmaker Cori Bush (D-Missouri) faces criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for misuse of federal funds.
Federal authorities are probing the Missouri lawmaker for hiring and paying her husband, Cortney Merritts, who was once her security detail. But Bush denies any wrongdoing.
According to William McFarland, House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms, his office received a grand jury subpoena by the DOJ and immediately notified House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
In an article by Fox News, Cori Bush allegedly spent nearly $500,000 in campaign funds on private security despite leading the call to defund the police.
“Bush’s campaign paid out over $100,000 for “security services” throughout the third quarter of 2022, according to Federal Election Commission records. Her campaign paid $71,201.06 to Peace Security, a St. Louis-based private security company. Most of the remaining $30,000 for “security services” went to Cortney Merrits and Nathaniel Davis, whose reported address in the filings is the same as Bush’s campaign headquarters,” detailed Fox News.
Despite taking accountability for the controversy, the lawmaker blames right-wing organizations for the ongoing criminal investigation.
Bush said, “In recent months, right-wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services.”
The congresswoman again pointed to “right-wing organizations”, as she alleges that these groups would not “stop politicizing and pursuing efforts” to attack her and [in a way] the work of people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to do.”
House Republicans led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) mocked Bush and said, “She made a statement and blamed ‘right-wing organizations.”
“The DOJ is clearly not a right-wing organization nor does it listen to any,” says Greene.
However, Bush admitted to hiring her husband and claimed that she had “endured relentless threats” to her physical safety and life, even before she was elected.
Despite her claim that she is a “rank-and-file” employee and is therefore “not entitled” to personal protection, Congress allocates $25,000 to all House Representatives for personal security. These funds can be used to pay for security at any events related to their districts or activities in which they are performing official duties or at their district offices during official business hours.
However, federal authorities probe her for spending $572,000 on security in 2022, $60,000 she paid to her husband.
With the ongoing investigations, Bush’s cards seemed stacked against her as she sought reelection.
