Opinion
The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) centered around allegations of the misuse of federal security funds.
The Political Insider previously reported that Bush’s husband, Cortney Merrits, had been paid well over $100,000 for security services.
Bush married Merrits, a military veteran who provides security services, back in February and kept him on the campaign payroll, according to the St. Louis Dispatch. That move prompted multiple complaints with the Federal Election Commission.
The DOJ criminal investigation was first revealed when the department issued a subpoena to the House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms “for records relating to the misspending of federal security money.”
The obvious first choice as target was Bush, whose security spending was by far the most of any “Squad” member, almost three times higher than that of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman later confirmed her as the target.
RELATED: WATCH: Cori Bush’s Husband Confronted About Role After Campaign Paid Him Tens Of Thousands For ‘Security’
Bush Confirms She Is Under Investigation By The DOJ
After initially refusing to comment on the investigation with a Punchbowl News reporter due to a “toothache,” Bush eventually came clean in a press conference.
Reading a statement off of her cell phone, Bush contends that “right-wing organizations” are behind the DOJ investigation.
“I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services,” she said. “We are fully cooperating in this investigation, and I would like to take this opportunity to outline the facts and the truth.”
Cori Bush cries “Conservatives pouncing” after DOJ launches probe into illegal use of federal tax dollars for personal security:
“Any reporting that I have used funds for personal security is simply false… right-wing organizations have launched baseless complaints against me.” pic.twitter.com/mthNWbeYbv
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 30, 2024
“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,” Bush continued. “That simply is not true.”
Bush then mentioned these “right-wing organizations” yet again, and concluded that they will not “stop politicizing and pursuing efforts to attack me and the work the people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to do.”
RELATED: Anti-Police ‘Squad’ Member Cori Bush Paid Hundreds Of Thousands To Pro-Second Amendment Security Firm
Husband Confronted About Role After Campaign Paid Him Tens Of Thousands For ‘Security’
Bush’s pinpointing of “right-wing organizations” is interesting considering FEC records showed her campaign doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to a private security firm known as Peace Security based in St. Louis. The firm has been reported as a right-wing private security firm that promotes the Second Amendment.
It’s also noteworthy that the notoriously anti-gun Democrat is now on the DOJ’s radar for her obsession with hiring security and seemingly funneling campaign money to her husband to carry out those services.
Merritts was confronted a few months back by a Fox News reporter, and he initially denied any role in Bush’s campaign.
Merrits was listed in documents as receiving “security” payments before the description was later switched to “wage expenses,” perhaps raising further red flags about the campaign spending.
Bush has argued that she needs the added security because, as a member of Congress, her value is greater than that of the average citizen.
“I have private security because my body is worth being on this planet,” she said in an interview with CBS News, later adding her safety means, “I get to be here (in Congress) to do the work.”
Bush also went on a noticeable rant suggesting that criticizing her obvious hypocrisy means you’d like to see her die.
“They would rather I die?” she questioned. “You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see?”
Democrat Rep. Cori Bush (2021):
I need private security but defunding the police needs to happen, so suck it up
They think their lives matter more pic.twitter.com/o7itcvyGUk
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 3, 2023
“So suck it up,” Bush told viewers.
Now, it appears, Bush will have to suck up a subpoena and a DOJ investigation.
As the Missouri Democrat pointed out in her statement, she was cleared unanimously by the Office of Congressional Ethics regarding one complaint surrounding payments for her husband.
It seems unlikely that Joe Biden’s Justice Department is acting solely on complaints filed by “right-wing organizations” though they have declined to comment on the matter as of this posting.
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