“Squad” Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) steered thousands of dollars to her husband and longtime security guard in the lead-up to the revelation that the congresswoman is under criminal investigation for her campaign’s major spending on private security, records show.
The Missouri Democrat’s campaign paid $17,500 between Oct. 2, 2023, and Dec. 28, 2023, to Bush’s husband Cortney Merritts for “wage expenses,” as well as $20,000 in roughly the same period for “security services” to a man named Joseph Walter, according to the congresswoman’s 2023 year-end Federal Election Commission filing released Wednesday evening. News of the payments comes after Bush confirmed on Tuesday the Justice Department is investigating her over allegedly misusing federal and campaign funds for private security.
“Missourians are outraged that congresswoman Cori Bush has spent her time in office vilifying law enforcement in our state and across the nation while simultaneously demanding extra security for herself,” Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told the Washington Examiner. “It’s beyond hypocritical and would be deeply ironic if she broke the law in pursuit of additional security.”