By Steve Neavling
The Justice Department has opened an investigation into U.S. Rep. Cori Bush’s alleged mishandling of campaign funds on personal security services.
The Democrat from Missouri confirmed the investigation in a lengthy statement, saying she and her team are “fully cooperating in this investigation.”
“First and foremost, I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest levels of integrity,” Bush said. “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.”
Federal law prohibits lawmakers from compensating family members to work in their official offices, unless they are providing “bona fide” services to the campaign.
Following a previous investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics, the office voted to recommend dismissing the allegations, saying her husband, Cortney Merritts, performed “bona fide” security work. The office suggested that he was not overpaid and that the congresswoman faced serious threats to her safety.
“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” Bush said in the statement. “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.”
