February 1st 2024.
According to a report from NPR, it has been confirmed by Representative Cori Bush that the Department of Justice is currently looking into her campaign's security spending. This comes after an investigation subpoena was read on the House floor. Bush, who represents the St. Louis district, has stated that she hired her husband to be a part of her security team and can provide evidence that his services were either at or below market rate.
In a statement, Bush shared, "Since even before I took office, I have faced constant threats to my safety and well-being. As a regular member of Congress, I am not entitled to personal protection from the House, so I have used campaign funds to hire security services." She also mentioned that she is fully cooperating with the DOJ, as well as the Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics. So far, she has not been presented with any evidence of wrongdoing.
According to Fox News, Bush has attributed the investigation to "right-wing organizations." She clarified, "I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reports claiming that I have used federal funds for personal security are simply untrue." One of the groups mentioned is the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT). The organization reacted to the news by defending their decision to file a complaint with the FEC in 2023, alleging that Bush had made repeated payments to her now-husband. Kendra Arnold, the executive director of FACT, stated, "In her own FEC filings, the payments were initially labeled as 'security expenses'." She also mentioned that their concerns stemmed from the fact that Bush and her husband have a close personal relationship and that her husband did not have a license to provide security services.
The issue of security has become a growing concern for elected officials, especially after the events of January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. According to reports from Capitol Police, there have been over 8,000 threats made against lawmakers - a significant increase from the previous year. In 2021, Bush took matters into her own hands by having her office moved away from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. This came after Bush accused Greene of verbally attacking her in a hallway on January 13th, just one week after the Capitol was stormed.
In summary, Representative Cori Bush is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for her campaign's security spending, which includes payments made to her husband. Bush maintains that her husband's services were at or below market rate and that she has not used any federal tax dollars for personal security. The issue of security has become a major concern for elected officials, and Bush has taken steps to ensure her own safety by moving her office away from a colleague who she claims verbally attacked her.
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