The Justice Department is investigating Squad member Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) for allegedly misappropriating government funds for her own safety, two sources told Fox News. told.
Officials said the investigation is related to allegations of improper spending of federal security funds.
An announcement of the subpoena was read on the House floor on Monday, and officials said it was related to the Bush investigation.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
Bush’s office issued a statement to Fox News Digital confirming that “the Department of Justice is reviewing spending for my campaign’s security services.”
He blamed the Justice Department investigation and other investigations into the matter by the Federal Election Commission and the House Ethics Committee on “right-wing organizations.” “I do not spend any federal tax dollars on personal security services. Reports that I have used federal funds on personal security services are completely false,” she said in part.
Speculation swirls as House member notifies Justice Department of subpoenas
One such watchdog group, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), reacted to news of the Justice Department investigation by Bush filed a formal complaint with the FEC in 2023 detailing repeated payments to the man who is now her husband.
“In her own FEC filings, the payments were initially characterized as being for ‘safety.’ Among the many troubling facts that we felt strongly warranted an investigation were her personal close relationships, the fact that she was making large payments to others at the same time for the same services, and Allegedly, her husband did not have permission to provide those services. ” FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold said in a statement obtained by FOX News Digital.
Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush is under investigation by the Justice Department. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, after our complaint was filed, Congressman Bush changed the disclosure language describing the ongoing payments to my husband to something amorphous and vague: ‘wage payments.’ Did. This, at the very least, clearly defeats the purpose of the law. Please explain the purpose of your campaign spending,” she said. “Our hope, as always with our complaints, is that a thorough and fair investigation will reveal the truth of the matter and whether any violations of the law were committed.”
Mr. Arnold continued, “The rules and laws governing the use and disclosure of federal campaign expenditures ensure that members of Congress elected to represent us cannot campaign without personally benefiting from their office. The facts alone speak for the need for an investigation, my fellow citizens.” The truth must come out and several government agencies believe an investigation is worthwhile. I’m glad I made the decision and look forward to seeing the results. ”
In a message read by the House clerk on Monday informing Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, House Sergeant-at-Arms William McFarland said his office had filed a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the Department of Justice. The sergeant said he had received it and added: The Ministry of Munitions will comply with the subpoena. The message did not provide any further explanation.
WATCH: Cori Bush’s husband at stake over thousands of dollars in cash he received on campaign
Speculation swirled on social media about the nature of the Justice Department investigation, including whether it was related to Jan. 6, but sources later pointed the finger at Mr. Bush instead.
It’s worth noting that Mr. Bush spent more than $500,000 on his own private security while publicly advocating for defunding the police movement.
Punchbowl News first reported that the Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation against Bush in connection with the House Sergeant at Arms subpoena.
President Bush’s husband, former security guard Courtney Merritt, married in February 2023. Obtained a payout of over $100,000 Fox News Digital previously reported that President Bush added him to his campaign pay stub in January 2022, marking him as “guaranteed,” then changed that description to “wage expenditure” in April.
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.
FACT also ordered the FEC to investigate whether Mr. Bush “personally used campaign funds,” citing a $60,000 payment in 2022 for security services provided to Mr. Merritt. filed a complaint seeking.
“It appears that Congressman Bush’s campaign may have paid for unnecessary services or services in excess of fair market value because of his personal relationship with the recipient,” Arnold wrote in the complaint at the time. is written in. “If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to family members or impermissible gifts.”
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“We therefore ask the FEC to investigate whether Congressman Bush diverted campaign funds to his personal use by paying him a salary that was at fair market value and not for bona fide service,” the complaint states. Says. “If ultimately one or more campaign law violations are found, we will urge the FEC to hold the defendants accountable.”
FOX News’ Joe Schofstall contributed to this report.
