Staff Reports
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) is facing serious allegations and ethics complaints regarding her use of campaign funds to pay her now husband for security services. The Committee to Defeat the President has been putting pressure on Bush, sending complaints and additional documents to various government agencies, such as the Office of Congressional Ethics and the Department of Justice. They are calling for an investigation into the matter.
Cori Bush Continues to Be in Hot Water Over Campaign Finance Scandal
https://t.co/QNpy1segxY— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2023
According to Fox News, Bush’s husband, Courtney Merritts, received $60,000 from her campaign, even though he does not possess a security license in Missouri. His previous license expired in 2012. He now claims to be the owner of Vetted Movers, despite the fact that the company does not offer any security-related services.
Cori Bush defends hiring private security for herself:
“Suck it up. And defunding the police needs to happen.” pic.twitter.com/fQU42ZlMsM
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 5, 2021
To make matters worse, Bush’s campaign changed the language used to describe the payments to Merritts. Initially, they were labeled as “security services,” but in mid-April, they were changed to “wage expenses.” However, the amounts remained the same. The Committee argues that this indicates a potential violation of Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations and the prohibition on using campaign funds for unlawful activities.
The supplement provided by the Committee highlights the different possible violations committed by Bush and her campaign. If the payments were indeed for security services, Merritts would have been providing them without the required licenses, violating various jurisdictional codes and FEC rules. On the other hand, if Merritts did not provide any security services, it suggests that Bush and her campaign intentionally filed false reports to conceal the unlawful expenditure and convert campaign funds for personal use.
The supplement also claims that Bush’s conversion of campaign funds violates House Rule XXIII(2), (6)(b)- (c) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These violations, if proven true, could lead to fines and imprisonment.
Ted Harvey, chairman of the Committee, did not mince words when discussing the scandal. He accused Bush of being a “run-of-the-mill Beltway grifter” who is using taxpayer and donor funds for personal gain. He emphasized the Committee’s commitment to holding her accountable in both Washington, D.C. and Missouri, stating that she should face the same consequences as any Republican would from the radical Left.
This is not the only ethics complaint filed against Bush. Earlier this month, she faced allegations regarding her fundraising tactics on Twitter. It seems that Bush’s questionable actions are piling up, raising serious concerns about her integrity and commitment to upholding the law.
Editorial: Rep. Cori Bush’s actions are deeply troubling and should not be taken lightly. Her use of campaign funds for personal gains is a blatant violation of ethics rules and demonstrates a lack of respect for the law. The fact that she changed the description of the payments in an attempt to cover up the wrongdoing only adds to the seriousness of the situation. It is important that a thorough investigation takes place to hold Bush accountable for her actions, just as any Republican would be held responsible. The American people deserve representatives who uphold the highest standards of integrity, not “run-of-the-mill Beltway grifters” like Bush.
