Representative Cori Bush has recently made additional campaign payments totaling $17,500 to her husband, Cortney Merritts, according to the latest disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission. These recent transactions, made in seven increments of $2,500 each from October to December, continue a pattern of financial dealings to Merritts over the past couple of years.
Since their marriage in February 2023, Bush and Merritts have publicly acknowledged their relationship, which dates back to before her tenure in office beginning in 2021. Initially, payments to Merritts were designated for security services starting January 2022. However, by April 2023, these were reclassified as “wage expenses,” amid increasing scrutiny over the campaign’s financial practices.
To date, Merritts has received a total of $120,000 from Bush’s campaign funds. While it is legal for politicians to employ family members, provided they perform actual services at fair market rates, Merritts’ role, particularly in security, has raised eyebrows. Notably, as of late February 2023, he did not possess a private security license, nor was he listed in a Washington, D.C., database of licensed security professionals.
This arrangement has prompted at least two formal complaints from watchdog organizations, questioning the legitimacy and ethical implications of these payments. Despite these controversies, Bush’s campaign has heavily invested in private security services, allocating over $770,000 to various St. Louis-based firms, in addition to payments to Merritts.
The Justice Department is currently investigating Bush’s campaign expenditures on security, including the payments to her husband. Bush has stated that her campaign is fully cooperating with the ongoing inquiries and emphasized her need for security due to persistent threats against her safety.
These developments come amid broader discussions about campaign finance ethics and the use of campaign funds for personal benefit. Bush’s office and campaign have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the latest financial disclosures and the ongoing Justice Department investigation.