'Squad' member under DOJ investigation is still paying her husband with campaign funds, filings show

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., paid her hubby different $15,000 from her campaigner committee this twelvemonth moreover arsenic she faces a Justice Department probe into her run spending, caller filings show.

The progressive "Squad" member's run made 2 $2,500 costs payments to her spouse, Cortney Merritts, each period betwixt January 1 and March 29, according to documents submitted to nan Federal Election Commission and released connected Monday. 

In total, nan Bush run has now paid Merritts $135,000 for information services since January 2022, which person been listed arsenic "wage expenses" since April 2023. 

The Bush run did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

CORI BUSH'S CAMPAIGN PAYS $17,500 MORE TO HER HUSBAND, BRINGING HIS TOTAL TO $120k, NEW FILINGS SHOW

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), center, joins Maximus Federal Call Center workers astatine a protestation calling connected nan Biden management for higher wages and bully national jobs extracurricular nan Department of Health and Human Services connected Dec. 12, 2023 successful Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Communications Workers of America (CWA))

In January, Bush released a connection that confirmed Department of Justice investigators were reviewing her run committee's spending connected information services. "As a rank-and-file personnel of Congress I americium not entitled to individual protection by nan House, and alternatively person utilized run costs arsenic permissible to clasp information services," Bush said.

"In accordance pinch each applicable laws and House rules, I retained my hubby arsenic portion of my information squad to supply information services because he has extended acquisition successful this area, and is capable to supply nan basal services astatine aliases beneath a adjacent marketplace rate."

Politicians tin salary family members from their committees arsenic agelong arsenic they supply "bona fide" services astatine adjacent marketplace value. However, Merrits pocketed nan money arsenic Bush's run simultaneously spent importantly much connected St. Louis-based companies, specified arsenic PEACE Security, for backstage detail. She has spent complete $770,000 connected specified services.

Merritts, whose online accounts and posts person indicated he worked astatine a railroad institution for years earlier starting a moving company, did not person a backstage information licence arsenic of precocious February 2023. He besides did not look successful a Washington, D.C., database of licensed information specialists, Fox News Digital antecedently reported. 

CORI BUSH'S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HER HUSBAND FOR PRIVATE SECURITY

Watchdog groups person revenge astatine slightest 2 complaints against Bush complete nan information payments. The first complaint, revenge by nan Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust past year, is still pending. The House Ethics Committee has since cleared Bush successful a 2nd title from nan Committee to Defeat nan President.

Bush's run has declined to respond to aggregate Fox News Digital inquiries astir nan payments.

CORI BUSH'S CAMPAIGN PAID HER HUSBAND FOR SECURITY SERVICES - BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A PRIVATE SECURITY LICENSE

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is nan taxable of a Justice Department probe complete her run spending connected information services, including payments to her husband, Cortney Merritts. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

However, erstwhile pressed, he said he was employed pinch nan campaign. 

"I'm still successful nan campaign; I still do information pinch nan campaign. Have a bully night, man. Be safe," Merritts said earlier getting into a car pinch Bush.

FEC filings besides show Bush is still astatine a important rate disadvantage successful nan Democratic superior for Missouri's 1st Congressional District.

Ahead of nan Aug. 6 primary, Bush reported $528,622 rate connected manus arsenic of March 31. Her opponent, Wesley Bell, a progressive prosecuting lawyer for St. Louis County who differs from Bush successful his Israel stance, has much than double astatine his disposal, pinch $1.14 cardinal successful his warfare chest. 

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Bell is backed by able Democratic donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who contributed nan maximum of $6,600 to his run for nan superior and wide elections, filings show. 

A caller canvass recovered that Bush whitethorn besides beryllium successful problem travel August. Bell is presently up by 22 points complete nan "Squad" member, the New York Post reported.

Fox News Digital's Joe Schoffstall contributed to this report.