House Democrat Being Probed by DOJ for Allegedly Misusing Campaign Funds

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) speak at a press conference on the Israel-Hamas war outside of the U.S. Capitol on December 07, 2023 in Washington, DC. A group of Democratic lawmakers joined by members of Doctors Against Genocide called on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A congresswoman is under federal investigation for alleged misuse of campaign funds.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Ms. Bush confirmed on Jan. 30.

“I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest levels of integrity. I also believe in transparency which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending security services,” Ms. Bush said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating in this investigation.”

The confirmation comes one day after the House sergeant at arms announced he received a grand jury subpoena and had deemed it legitimate.

The DOJ has declined to comment.

Ms. Bush, 47, is a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist who was first elected in 2020 and won reelection in 2022.

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Ms. Bush’s reelection campaign spent $571,856 for security services, including $338,193 in 2022 alone, the watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust said in a complaint to U.S. authorities that called for an investigation.

Some of the money went to Courtney Merritts, who local broadcasters reported lacks a St. Louis private security license and also is not in a database for those licensed in the Washington area.

Additionally, Ms. Bush married Mr. Merritts in 2023 and reportedly began a relationship with him in 2021.

Federal rules prohibit candidates from using campaign funds for “personal use,” including payments to family members who are not providing “bona fide“ services to the campaign.

“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,” Kendra Arnold, executive director of the watchdog, told the Federal Election Commission in the complaint.

Ms. Bush said Tuesday that even before she entered office she had faced threats.

“As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have 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,” she said.

Mr. Merritts could not be reached for comment.

Reports this week said the subpoena revealed by the House sergeant at arms was part of an investigation into a member’s spending on security.

The House clerk on Monday in Washington read a letter from House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland, who said that his office had been served with a grand jury subpoena from the DOJ.

“After consulting with the office of general counsel, I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the rights and derivatives of the House,” said Mr. McFarland, who was appointed by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) when he was House speaker.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Mr. McFarland have not responded to requests for comment.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, declined to comment on the subpoena in a press conference.

“That’s something for the Justice Department,” Mr. Aguilar said.

Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Cori Bush gestures as she completes her ballot at Gambrinus Hall in St Louis, Miss., on Aug. 4, 2020. (Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

Ms. Bush said that in addition to the DOJ, she is being probed by the Federal Election Commission and the House Ethics Committee. The Office of Congressional Ethics, she said, has reviewed the matter and said the case should be dismissed. That office makes referrals to the House Ethics Committee, which often takes months to complete investigations.

“I look forward to this same outcome from all pending investigations,” Ms. Bush said.

“The rules and laws governing the use and disclosure of federal campaign expenditures are written to ensure that those in Congress elected to represent us do so without personally profiting from their office. The facts alone speak to the need for an investigation, citizens deserve the truth, and we are glad that several governmental bodies have found an investigation is merited and look forward to the outcomes,” Ms. Arnold, of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, said in a statement.

Ms. Bush acknowledged she paid her husband but said the payments were legal.

“In accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate,” Ms. Bush said.

Ms. Bush kept paying Mr. Merritts following their marriage, including $2,500 on Sept. 26, 2023, according to federal records. The category of expense for the payments to Mr. Merritts used to be security services but, for more recent payments, is wage expenses.

Ms. Bush previously defended spending so much on private security as she advocated for slashing funds for police departments.

“They would rather I die? You would rather me die. Is that what you’d want me to see? You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative,” Ms. Bush told CBS in 2021. “So either I spend $70,000 on private security over the last few months and I’m here standing now and able to speak, able to help save 11 million people from being evicted. Or I could possibly have a death attempt on my life.”