Democratic Rep. Cori Bush confirms DOJ investigating her for security payments to husband

Rep. Cori Bush on Tuesday confirmed that she is being investigated by the Justice Department for her campaign spending on security, focusing on payments to a former security guard she married.

"We are fully cooperating in this investigation," she said, according to Politico.

After marrying Cortney Merritts nearly a year ago, Bush came under fire last year for giving tens of thousands of dollars to him for security during the first half of 2023. Her office has said that their relationship began before she entered Congress. 

"In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role on the campaign," she also said Tuesday. "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."

Bush spent nearly $130,000 on private security last year, but that figure does not include the final quarter report for 2023, which has yet to be filed. 

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