A political scandal unfolds as Cortney Merritts, husband of former congresswoman Cori Bush, comes under federal scrutiny.
According to Free Beacon, Merritts has been indicted on wire fraud charges for allegedly submitting falsified applications to obtain more than $20,000 in COVID-19 relief funds during 2020 and 2021.
The Department of Justice announced that Merritts allegedly misrepresented details about his businesses to secure loans through both the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program from the Small Business Administration. The indictment marks another controversial chapter for the couple, who secretly married in 2023 while Bush served as a representative for St. Louis.
The wire fraud charges emerge amid an ongoing DOJ investigation into Bush's campaign spending practices. The former congresswoman, who lost her primary race last year, had allocated more than $812,000 for private security services from her campaign budget. A significant portion of these funds, exceeding $150,000, went directly to Merritts for his role as her bodyguard.
Despite the DOJ's scrutiny of these payments, Bush maintained the monthly security arrangements. Financial records show that Merritts continued to receive $5,000 monthly payments for security services from Bush's campaign funds. The arrangement raised eyebrows among campaign finance watchdogs and political observers.
The security spending extended beyond Merritts to include payments to Nathaniel Davis III, a close associate of Bush. Davis, known for making unusual claims about supernatural abilities, also received substantial compensation for security services.
Bush's tenure in Congress was marked by her membership in the progressive "Squad" alongside Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib. Her controversial positions on various issues, including her refusal to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, often drew national attention.
During her time in office, Bush established herself as one of the most left-wing members of Congress. She was one of only two representatives who voted against a measure intended to prevent Hamas terrorists from entering the United States.
The St. Louis representative's primary defeat came after a contentious campaign period. Bush attributed her loss to external factors, including what she characterized as Jewish opposition to her candidacy.
The Department of Justice's investigation has expanded beyond the initial campaign finance inquiry. Investigators are now examining both the alleged COVID relief fraud and the campaign security payments, creating a complex web of financial scrutiny.
The COVID relief programs targeted in the alleged fraud were designed to assist struggling small businesses during the pandemic. Merritts' indictment suggests he exploited these emergency measures for personal gain.
Cortney Merritts faces serious federal charges related to allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs through falsified business applications in 2020 and 2021. The indictment comes as investigators continue to probe the broader context of Bush's campaign spending, particularly the substantial security service payments to both Merritts and other associates.
The DOJ's dual investigations into COVID relief fraud and campaign finance irregularities present significant legal challenges for both Merritts and potentially Bush. These developments follow Bush's departure from Congress after losing her primary race, adding another layer to the complex political and legal narrative surrounding the former Squad member and her husband.
