Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has refuted claims that, after the public release of a US Justice Department probe, she improperly utilized government money for personal protection. She held "right-wing groups" accountable for the dispute.
"I have not utilized any federal tax monies for personal protection services," Bush said to reporters on Capitol Hill. Right-wing groups have filed unfounded accusations against me, therefore any reports claiming that I have used monies for personal protection are just untrue. Campaign, and [her] position to the greatest standards of openness," she continued.
The refusal follows the issuance of a subpoena for Bush on Monday afternoon on the congressional floor.
While her identity remained undisclosed at the time, subsequent reports disclosed that Bush is currently facing charges following the nonpartisan Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust's (FACT) demand that the Federal Election Commission look into a $62,000 payment she made to her current spouse, Cortney Merritts, for security.
"It seems Rep. Bush's campaign may have made payments for services that were unneeded or beyond fair market value because of her personal connection with the payee," said Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT, in an ethics complaint.
If so, Arnold said, "then these payments would be considered either an improper gift or an impermissible payment to a family member." Merrits and Bush tied the knot in February 2023, but not until Merrits had worked for the campaign in 2022.
According to Federal Election Commission documents, Merrits worked as part of Bush's campaign security detail and was paid $2,500 every two weeks for her protection services in 2022. Bush has argued for the defunding of the police.
"I have not utilized any federal tax monies for personal protection services," Bush said to reporters on Capitol Hill. Right-wing groups have filed unfounded accusations against me, therefore any reports claiming that I have used monies for personal protection are just untrue. Campaign, and [her] position to the greatest standards of openness," she continued.
The refusal follows the issuance of a subpoena for Bush on Monday afternoon on the congressional floor.
While her identity remained undisclosed at the time, subsequent reports disclosed that Bush is currently facing charges following the nonpartisan Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust's (FACT) demand that the Federal Election Commission look into a $62,000 payment she made to her current spouse, Cortney Merritts, for security.
"It seems Rep. Bush's campaign may have made payments for services that were unneeded or beyond fair market value because of her personal connection with the payee," said Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT, in an ethics complaint.
If so, Arnold said, "then these payments would be considered either an improper gift or an impermissible payment to a family member." Merrits and Bush tied the knot in February 2023, but not until Merrits had worked for the campaign in 2022.
According to Federal Election Commission documents, Merrits worked as part of Bush's campaign security detail and was paid $2,500 every two weeks for her protection services in 2022. Bush has argued for the defunding of the police.
