The St. Louis Democrat, Cori Bush, is currently facing a Justice Department probe into her alleged misuse of government funds to pay for her security. With less than five months until her Democrat primary, Bush is positioning herself as the most vulnerable congressional member of the progressive “Squad” this election cycle. Bush, along with other lawmakers in the Squad, has been targeted by organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which seeks to oust them from office due to their contentious stances and statements against the Jewish state. However, Bush finds herself in the worst position among the group.
In addition to facing a tough primary challenge from her Democrat opponent, Wesley Bell, a progressive prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County who clashes with her stance on Israel, Bush is also dealing with a federal investigation into her campaign. Furthermore, her campaign funds are running low heading into a pivotal time before her Aug. 6 primary.
Bell was shown to have a significant lead over Bush last month, according to the New York Post. Additionally, Bush is confronting a Justice Department investigation into her campaign’s security payments, including payments to her husband, Cortney Merritts, whom she married in February 2023. Merritts has been paid $120,000 from Bush’s campaign since February 2022. While politicians are allowed to pay family members from their committees if they provide “bona fide” services at fair market value, Merritts received the checks as Bush’s committee spent significantly more on St. Louis-based companies for private details. In total, Bush has spent over $770,000 on private security services. Merritts did not have a private security license and was not listed in a Washington, D.C. database of licensed security professionals. Watchdog groups have filed complaints over the matter, with the initial complaint pending before the Federal Election Commission since March 2023.
Despite the ongoing federal investigation, Bush’s campaign spokesperson stated that she is fully cooperating with the Department of Justice and that her campaign’s security services are in accordance with all applicable laws. The spokesperson also mentioned that the Office of Congressional Ethics cleared Bush in September and expects her to be cleared again when the DOJ concludes its investigation. The Justice Department opened its investigation into Bush’s campaign payments after the ethics committee had already determined that she did not violate any rules.
Aside from the federal investigation, Bush is also facing fundraising challenges. Her most recent filings show that her campaign had only $215,000 in January, while her opponent, Wesley Bell, reported having $408,000 in the bank. Bell has seen a significant increase in fundraising since shifting from challenging Republican Sen. Josh Hawley to joining the Democrat primary against Bush. Bell’s campaign raised $492,000 from October to December and received an additional $100,000 in early January. He has also received support from prominent Democrat donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
Overall, Cori Bush’s campaign is facing numerous challenges, including a federal investigation, a tough primary challenge, and low campaign funds. Her position as a vulnerable member of the “Squad” puts her at risk of losing her seat in Congress. As the primary election approaches, it remains to be seen how Bush will navigate these obstacles and secure her position in the Democratic Party.
