(TheRedAlertNews.com) – Another blatant case of leftist abuse of funds might be on the way to getting punished as the US Justice Department has started a criminal investigation into Democrat US Rep. Cori Bush over revelations she squandered campaign money on security provided by her boyfriend, later husband.
This inquiry was disclosed by Bush (D-MO) herself on Tuesday, National Review reports.
There have been reports that the 47-year-old radical congresswoman improperly used campaign funds for security services.
She allegedly paid higher-than-standard rates to contract her then-lover, Cortney Merritts, whom she married in February 2023. Merritts is a US Army veteran.
In a formal statement on the criminal probe, Bush claimed she was committed to ethical conduct, transparency, and cooperation with the investigation.
“First and foremost, I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest level of integrity,” she stated.
“I also believe in transparency which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services,” the far-left Democrat said, adding she was “fully cooperating” with the relevant authorities.
As a part of this investigation, the House Sergeant at Arms was ordered by the DOJ to provide records connected to the alleged financial misconduct, as initially reported by Punchbowl News.
This development follows a formal complaint lodged by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) with the Federal Election Commission in March 2023.
FACT questioned whether Representative Cori Bush improperly used campaign funds for personal benefit.
The complaint specifically scrutinized the $60,000 expenditure in 2022 for security services from Cortney Merritts, the congresswoman’s then-lover.
FACT’s executive director, Kendra Arnold, expressed concerns in the complaint about the nature of these payments.
“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. If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to a family member or an impermissible gift,” Arnold said.
Bush, known for her progressive stance and advocacy for defunding the police, has incurred substantial expenses on private security.
In 2022, her campaign paid her future husband, Merritts, $2,500 for security services across 24 instances.
Additionally, her campaign disbursed over $225,000 to PEACE Security and $50,000 to security guard Nathaniel Davis the same year.
