More Corruption: Cori Bush Under Investigation For Questionable Payments To Her Husband

The watchdog group alleges that Bush's campaign committee may have used campaign funds for personal use, prompting the FEC to examine whether the payments made by her campaign to her husband, Cortney Merritts, were necessary or above fair market value.

The FEC will investigate whether Bush's campaign committee used funds for "bona fide campaign or political purposes" and whether the payments made to her husband were for legitimate services. If not, the payments could fall under the prohibited categories of "payments to family members" or "gifts." The FEC may hold the respondents accountable if it finds that one or more campaign laws were broken.

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March 03, 2023

Fox News Digital reported that Merritts collected the payments from Bush's campaign without having a private security license in the St. Louis region. In the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County, all individuals who perform security functions must be licensed to do so through the Private Security Section. While Bush's campaign paid Merritts $60,000 for security services in 2022, her campaign also spent $225,281 with PEACE Security and $50,000 with an individual named Nathaniel Davis for personal protection.

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"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," FACT wrote in the complaint. "Therefore, we request the FEC investigate whether Rep. Bush converted campaign funds for personal use by paying a salary that was not for bona fide services at fair market value."

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"Both the fact that reportedly Bush's husband isn't licensed to provide security services for which he was paid, and that she was simultaneously paying large amounts to another company for the same services raise red flags that warrant an investigation by the FEC," FACT Kendra Arnold conveyed to Fox News Digital.

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In response to the allegations, Bush's office confirmed that she recently wed Merritts in a private ceremony, and they had been together since before Bush took office in 2021. The relationship between the two raises concerns about conflicts of interest, especially given the payments made by Bush's campaign committee to her husband.

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The complaint filed by FACT adds to growing calls for increased transparency and accountability in the use of campaign funds. It remains to be seen how the FEC will respond to the complaint and what actions it will take in response to any violations found.