Rep. Cori Bush, a progressive Democrat from Missouri, confirmed that she is under investigation by the Justice Department for her campaign’s spending on security services.
She said she complied with all applicable laws and House rules, and blamed right-wing groups for filing baseless complaints against her.
Bush, St. Louis representative, and former Black Lives Matter activist, said in a statement on Tuesday that she has endured “relentless threats” to her physical safety and life since before she was sworn into office in 2021. She said she is not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services.
“I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false.”
Multiple sources have confirmed that the House sergeant at arms (highest-ranking law enforcement official in the chamber) has received a grand jury subpoena from the Justice Department. The subpoena, which was disclosed on the House floor on Monday, demands documents about Bush’s security expenses. However, the purpose of the federal investigation remains unknown.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cori Bush faced criticism last year for marrying her security guard, Cortney Merritts, and continuing to pay him from her campaign funds for security services.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust and the National Legal and Policy Center, which are conservative watchdog organizations, accused Bush of breaking campaign finance rules by paying her relatives for security services. They submitted at least two complaints to the Federal Election Commission against Bush.
The St. Louis Rep. defended her decision to retain her husband as part of her security team, saying that he had extensive experience in this area, and was able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate.
She also accused conservative groups of targeting her with false and malicious allegations, and said she is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“Since I was elected, right-wing organizations have lodged numerous baseless complaints against me with the FEC and the DOJ. These complaints are part of a coordinated effort to undermine my work as a member of Congress and silence my voice as a Black woman,”
The Justice Department has not commented on the investigation of Cori Bush, and it is unclear how long it will take or what the outcome will be.
