Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) confirmed this week that there is an active federal criminal investigation underway over allegations that she misspent funds on personal security.
The criminal probe into the leftist “Squad” and “Defund the Police” advocate centers around issues related to her Member Representation Allowance (MRA). News broke of the investigation after a federal subpoena for records was announced in the House on Monday.
Max Cohen, a reporter for Punchbowl News, said in a post to X that he asked Bush “directly” about the investigation on Monday night. “She repeatedly declined to comment and reprimanded me for approaching her as she had a toothache,” the journalist recalled.
Bush confirmed the news in a statement to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, claiming that she holds herself and her campaign to “the highest levels of integrity.”
“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. We are fully cooperating in this investigation,” she said. “Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life. 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.”
“In recent months, right-wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services. That is simply not true,” she continued, claiming that she has complied with all relevant laws.
“In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role on the campaign,” she said. “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.”
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She said she believes that the investigation will eventually be dismissed.
WATCH:
Cori Bush addresses DOJ investigation:
“I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used funds for personal security is simply false….right-wing organizations have launched baseless complaints against me.” pic.twitter.com/1JvJP6qdzJ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 30, 2024
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.
