Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush paid her husband an additional $15,000 from his candidate committee this year, even as he faces a Justice Department investigation into campaign spending, new filings show. This was revealed in the documents.
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission and released Monday, the progressive Squad member’s campaign paid his spouse, Courtney Merritt, $2,500 twice a month from Jan. 1 to March 29. paid wages.
The Bush campaign has paid Merritt a total of $135,000 for security services since January 2022, which will be recorded as “wage expense” starting in April 2023.
The Bush campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Cori Bush’s campaign paid her husband an additional $17,500, bringing the total to $120,000, new filings reveal.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) joins Maximus Federal Call Center workers protesting to demand higher wages and better jobs outside the federal Department of Health and Human Services from the Biden administration in Washington, Dec. 12, 2023. State, Central). , D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Communications Workers of America (CWA))
Bush issued a statement in January confirming that Justice Department investigators were looking into his campaign committee’s spending on security services. President Bush said, “As an ordinary member of Congress, I am not entitled to personal protection by the House of Representatives, and instead I have used campaign funds to the extent permissible to maintain security services.”
“In accordance with all applicable laws and House rules, I have appointed my husband as part of the security team providing security services because he has extensive experience in this field and is able to provide the necessary services at below fair market rates. ”
Politicians can be paid by the commission to their families as long as they provide “honest” services at a fair market price. But Merritt pocketed the money as the Bush campaign simultaneously spent heavily on St. Louis-based companies such as PEACE Security for private details. She spent more than $770,000 on such services.
Merritt worked for a railroad company for years before starting his moving company, but as of late February 2023, he did not have a private security license, according to his online accounts and posts. He also was not listed in the Washington, D.C., license holder database. security expert, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Cori Bush’s campaign continues to pay her husband thousands of dollars for private security
Watchdog groups have filed at least two complaints against Mr. Bush over the bond. The original complaint, filed last year by the Accountability and Civic Trust Foundation, is still pending. The House Ethics Committee subsequently acquitted Mr. Bush of a second charge brought by the Committee to Overthrow the President.
The Bush campaign has declined to respond to multiple inquiries from Fox News Digital about the payments.
During October, FOX News Digital is at odds Merritt and his wife attended a Washington, D.C., fundraiser for California Democratic candidate Derek Marshall. In the exchange, Merritt appeared to backtrack on his own role in his campaign after telling the videographer he didn’t have a video camera.
Asked by a videographer about his role in the campaign, Merritt replied, “I don’t have a role in the campaign.”
Cori Bush’s campaign paid her husband for security services, but he doesn’t have a private security license
Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush is under investigation by the Justice Department over her campaign spending on public safety services, including payments to her husband, Courtney Merritt. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
But when pressed, he said he was employed by the campaign.
“I’m still campaigning. I’m in charge of security for the campaign. Good night. Stay safe,” Merritt said before getting into the car with Bush.
FEC filings also show that Mr. Bush remains at a significant financial disadvantage in the Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.
Ahead of the Aug. 6 primary election, Mr. Bush reported $528,622 in cash on hand as of March 31. His opponent, Wesley Bell, a progressive St. Louis County attorney who differs from Bush on Israel positions, has more than twice the cash at his disposal. , his war chest is $1.14 million.
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Bell is backed by wealthy Democratic donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who contributed up to $6,600 to his primary and general election campaigns, according to filings. .
Recent polls show that President Bush may also find himself in trouble in August.Bell is currently a member of the “Squad” new york post report.
Fox News Digital’s Joe Schoffstall contributed to this report.
