Congressman Cori Bush blamed “right-wing” watchdogs after it was revealed on Tuesday that the Justice Department had opened an investigation into the alleged misuse of government funds aimed at protecting her. ing.
The investigation is related to allegations that federal security funds were improperly disbursed.
Mr. Bush especially spent over $500,000 While protecting her own safety, she has publicly advocated for defunding the police movement.
Mr. Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, Missouri, acknowledged the Justice Department’s review of his campaign spending on security services and said his office was “fully cooperating” with the investigation.
“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life. “We have been using it as a security service,” Bush said in a statement Tuesday.
Speculation swirls as House member notifies Justice Department of subpoenas
Rep. Cori Bush (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“I don’t spend any federal tax dollars on personal security services,” she said.
Bush’s husband, former security guard Courtney Merritt, married her in February 2023, but not before Bush changed what she had marked as “security” to “wages” in January 2022. , has pocketed an additional $100,000 in payouts since adding him to the campaign’s payroll. April Spending,” Fox News Digital previously reported.
President Bush said that in recent months, “right-wing groups have filed unsubstantiated complaints against me and promoted the idea that I am misusing campaign funds to pay for personal security services.”
She said these allegations were “absolutely untrue” and that she “complies with all applicable laws and House rules and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as members of Congress.” “I will continue to do so.”
WATCH: Cori Bush’s husband in dispute over thousands of dollars in cash received from campaign
Rep. Cori Bush has spent more than $500,000 on her own private security while publicly advocating for defunding the police movement. (Getty Images)
“These frivolous complaints have led to numerous investigations, some of which are still ongoing. The Federal Election Commission and the House Ethics Committee are currently reviewing this matter, as is the Department of Justice. is cooperating fully in all of this.”An investigation is pending. ”
In March 2023, Bush received two complaints from the FEC over security payments she made to her new husband.
1 complaint This comes from the Committee to Defeat the President, an anti-Biden super PAC, which says Bush “violated” federal campaign finance laws by paying Merritt $60,000 in 2022 security expenses. claims. Merritt is not licensed to perform security duties in the congressman’s district. .
The Bush campaign also paid $225,281 to St. Louis-based PEACE Security company for personal protection throughout 2022. Bush and Merritt have been together since before she entered Congress in 2021, her office said in a press release.
The watchdog group Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) also filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over a $60,000 payment for security services provided to President Bush in 2022. filed a complaint demanding an investigation into whether President Bush “made personal use of campaign funds.” merit.
Representative of “Squad”.Cori Bush faces increasing pressure over campaign payments to her husband for security services
“I look forward to seeing this same outcome from all pending investigations,” said Congressman Bush. (John Michael Larsch/Fox News Digital)
On Monday, the House clerk announced that House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland informed him that his office had received a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the Department of Justice, adding that the sergeant-at-arms would comply with the subpoena. .
President Bush said Tuesday that a months-long investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics last September found “no wrongdoing and unanimously voted to dismiss the case.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I look forward to seeing this same outcome from all pending investigations,” she said.
“I hope these right-wing groups will politicize and pursue the job that I and the people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to lead boldly and to legislate change that my constituents will feel. “I have no illusions that I will stop, and to save lives,” she added.
