Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) is under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice, according to Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman.
Per Sherman, the DOJ has issued a subpoena to the House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms “for records relating to the misspending of federal security money.”
🚨BREAKING NEWS — THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT is conducting a criminal probe into @CoriBush, according to six sources familiar with the investigation.
The Justice Department subpoenaed the House Sergeant at Arms for records relating to the misspending of federal security money.…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 30, 2024
Bush, a progressive firebrand, was first elected to the House in 2020. After taking office in 2021, Bush was pressed on the tension between her support for defunding the police and her campaign’s profligate spending on security.
“You faced some criticism in recent weeks over your push to defund the police. Campaign records show that you spent roughly $70,000 on private security. Critics say that move is hypocritical. What’s your response to those critics?” inquired CBS News’ Vladimir Duthiers in one interview.
“They would rather I die? You would rather me die. Is that what you’d want me to see? You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative,” argued Bush in her response. “So either I spend $70,000 on private security over the last few months and I’m here standing now and able to speak, able to help save 11 million people from being evicted. Or I could possibly have a death attempt on my life.”
In October 2022, the New York Post reported that Bush’s campaign had spent a staggering sum totaling almost $500,000 on private security during the 2020-2022 campaign cycle.
Even while investing heavily in her own safety, Bush has insisted that “defunding the police has to happen.”
“We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because we’re trying to save lives,” she submitted in 2021.
