WASHINGTON, DC - Democrat Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), a member of the radical-left aligned "squad," has come under investigation by the Deptartment of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and the House Ethics Committee after reports emerged from Punchbowl News that she hired a man she would later marry as her personal security guard.
The trouble for Bush seemed to begin with a recent report from Punchbowl News revealing that a new subpoena for records announced in the House Monday was linked to a criminal probe into issues related to the Congresswoman's Member Related Allowance or MRA.
Initially, Bush declined to comment on the matter to Punchbowl's Max Cohen, who said she "repeatedly declined to comment and reprimanded me for approaching her as she had a toothache."
However, it would appear that dentistry quickly became the least of the Missouri Democrat's problems Tuesday as reports arose that she was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee as well as the FEC. The investigation is regarding Bush allegedly paying tens of thousands of dollars for personal security, including some $60,000 paid directly to Cortney Merritts, a man she later married in February 2023, as noted by The Daily Wire.
As reported by National Review, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the FEC in March 2023 that alleged, "During the 2022 campaign, Rep. Bush’s campaign paid $571,856 for security services. In 2022 alone, $338,193 was paid for security, which included $225,281 to PEACE Security, $60,000 to Cortney Merritts, and $50,000 to Nathaniel Davis. The payments to Merritts were bi-monthly in the amount of $2,500."
Merritts was named in the complaint and was reportedly in a relationship with Bush before she took office in 2021. The two were married in February 2023 according to the complaint written by FACT executive director Kendra Arnold.
Arnold told National Review, "Rep. Bush’s campaign may have made payments for services that were unnecessary or above fair market value because of her personal relationship with the payee. If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to a family member or an impermissible gift."
According to Axios, Bush outright denied using official congressional funds to pay for her security claiming that she instead, "used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services." She further refuted that there was any wrongdoing in her decision to hire her future husband to work security for her saying he has "extensive experience in this area," and "is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate."
That fair market rate per The New York Post included "biweekly $2,500 checks from Cori Bush for Congress," in addition to being "reimbursed $2,359.59 for ‘gas and travel expenses’ by the campaign.”
FACT DC also noted in its complaint that Merritts has not held a private security license since 2012 even though this is a requirement of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to work security in that jurisdiction.
The trouble for Bush seemed to begin with a recent report from Punchbowl News revealing that a new subpoena for records announced in the House Monday was linked to a criminal probe into issues related to the Congresswoman's Member Related Allowance or MRA.
Initially, Bush declined to comment on the matter to Punchbowl's Max Cohen, who said she "repeatedly declined to comment and reprimanded me for approaching her as she had a toothache."
However, it would appear that dentistry quickly became the least of the Missouri Democrat's problems Tuesday as reports arose that she was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee as well as the FEC. The investigation is regarding Bush allegedly paying tens of thousands of dollars for personal security, including some $60,000 paid directly to Cortney Merritts, a man she later married in February 2023, as noted by The Daily Wire.
As reported by National Review, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the FEC in March 2023 that alleged, "During the 2022 campaign, Rep. Bush’s campaign paid $571,856 for security services. In 2022 alone, $338,193 was paid for security, which included $225,281 to PEACE Security, $60,000 to Cortney Merritts, and $50,000 to Nathaniel Davis. The payments to Merritts were bi-monthly in the amount of $2,500."
Merritts was named in the complaint and was reportedly in a relationship with Bush before she took office in 2021. The two were married in February 2023 according to the complaint written by FACT executive director Kendra Arnold.
Arnold told National Review, "Rep. Bush’s campaign may have made payments for services that were unnecessary or above fair market value because of her personal relationship with the payee. If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to a family member or an impermissible gift."
According to Axios, Bush outright denied using official congressional funds to pay for her security claiming that she instead, "used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services." She further refuted that there was any wrongdoing in her decision to hire her future husband to work security for her saying he has "extensive experience in this area," and "is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate."
That fair market rate per The New York Post included "biweekly $2,500 checks from Cori Bush for Congress," in addition to being "reimbursed $2,359.59 for ‘gas and travel expenses’ by the campaign.”
FACT DC also noted in its complaint that Merritts has not held a private security license since 2012 even though this is a requirement of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to work security in that jurisdiction.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2024-02-03T12:19-0600 | Comment by: Eddie
Hey, Congress! That money came straight from MY back! Have a little compassion for the American taxpayer.
2024-02-04T12:51-0600 | Comment by: Eleanor
So many of the radical left blacks put these radical left blacks people in office because of their color, but they com,it many criminal acts, tarnishing the reputations of non-criminal black folks!!