A House clerk read a message notifying Speaker Mike Johnson that Sergeant of Arms William McFarland received a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the Justice Department and plans to comply. The Justice Department is investigating Squad member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., over the alleged misuse of government funds intended to pay for her security, two sources tell Fox News. The probe is related to allegations of federal security money being spent improperly, the sources said. A subpoena announcement was read on the House floor Monday, and sources said that is related to the investigation into Bush. The Justice Department declined to comment. Fox News also reached out to Bush’s office for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
In a message read aloud by a House clerk on Monday to notify Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland relayed that his office received a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the Justice Department and added that the sergeant of arms office would comply with that subpoena. The message did not elaborate further. Speculation swirled on social media about what the DOJ probe could be about, including whether it was related to Jan. 6, but sources later pointed to Bush instead.
Bush notably has spent more than $500,000 on her own private security while publicly advocating for the defund the police movement. PunchBowl News first reported the Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into Bush, connected with the House Sergeant at Arms subpoena. Bush’s husband and former security guard, Cortney Merritts, whom she married in February 2023, has pocketed more than $100,000 in payments since Bush added him to her campaign’s payroll in January 2022 for what they marked as “security” payments before switching their description to “wage expenses” in April, Fox News previously reported.
In March 2023, Bush was hit with two FEC complaints over security payments she made to her new husband. One complaint comes from the Committee to Defeat the President, an anti-Biden super PAC, which alleges Bush has “flouted” federal campaign finance laws by paying Merritts $60,000 for security in 2022. Merritts does not have a license to perform security functions in the congresswoman’s district. Bush’s campaign also paid $225,281 to the St. Louis-based PEACE Security firm for personal protection throughout 2022. Bush and Merritts have been together since before she entered Congress in 2021, a press release from her office said.
The watchdog group, Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), also filed a complaint asking the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate whether Bush “used campaign funds for personal use,” citing the $60,000 payment in 2022 for security services provided to Merritts. “It appears Rep. Bush’s campaign may have made payments for services that were unnecessary or above fair market value because of her personal relationship with the payee,” FACT executive director Kendra Arnold wrote in the complaint. “If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to a family member or an impermissible gift. “Therefore, we request the FEC investigate whether Rep. Bush converted campaign funds for personal use by paying a salary that was not for bona fide services at fair market value,” the complaint said at the time.
The investigation into Rep. Cori Bush comes amid a larger debate surrounding the defund the police movement and the allocation of government funds. Critics argue that Bush’s actions contradict her public stance on police funding, while supporters maintain that she has the right to prioritize her personal security. As the probe continues, it remains to be seen what consequences, if any, Rep. Bush may face.
Joe Schoffstall contributed to this report. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News covering politics, crime, police, and more. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @danimwallace. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more politics content.
