Rep. Cori Bush, a Democrat from Missouri, is facing a Justice Department probe into her campaign spending on private security. New filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission reveal that Bush made seven additional payments of $2,500 each to her husband, Cortney Merritts, between October 1 and December 31. These payments bring the total amount paid to Merritts to $120,000 since early 2022. While politicians are allowed to pay family members for services, they must be “bona fide” and at fair market value.
The controversy surrounding Bush’s campaign spending on security services began in January 2022 when Merritts started gathering money for such services. However, in April 2023, the campaign switched the description of the payments to “wage expenses.” This change coincided with increased spending on private security from St. Louis-based companies like PEACE Security, totaling over $770,000.
Concerns were raised about Merritts’ qualifications as a security specialist. Online accounts and posts indicated that he had worked at a railroad company before starting a moving company, and he did not possess a private security license or appear in a Washington, D.C., database of licensed security specialists.
Watchdog groups filed complaints regarding these payments, but the ethics committee cleared Bush in a second complaint from the Committee to Defeat the President. Despite repeated inquiries, Bush’s campaign did not respond to questions about the security payments or the payments to Merritts.
During an exchange with a videographer in October, Merritts appeared to backtrack on his role in the campaign but later confirmed that he still works with the campaign in a security capacity. The Justice Department is now investigating Bush’s campaign expenditures on private security and the payments to St. Louis-based companies.
Bush claims that she has faced relentless threats to her physical safety and life since before she was sworn into office, and as a rank-and-file member of Congress, she is not entitled to personal protection by the House. She has used campaign funds for security services and asserts that the investigations into her campaign spending are frivolous. The Federal Election Commission, the House Committee on Ethics, and the Department of Justice are currently reviewing the matter, and Bush’s office states that they are fully cooperating with these investigations.
Digital reached out to Bush’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response. The Justice Department’s investigation into her campaign spending on security services is ongoing.
Joe Schoffstall is a politics producer/reporter for Digital, and any story tips can be sent to [email protected] or on Twitter: @joeschoffstall.
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