Despite two complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission regarding Democratic Representative Cori Bush’s employment of her spouse as a security guard, he remains on her campaign payroll.
According to Fox News, a new filing revealed Courtney Merritts received $17,500 for security services and “wage expenses” between April and June.
Fox News reported that the submission arrived a week after the deadline.
In addition, Merritts was reportedly compensated $12,500 from January to March.
As of February, Merritts lacked the private security license required by the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
In a related matter, Merritts does not appear on a database of licensed security specialists in Washington, D.C.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, two complaints were lodged in March against Bush, who had announced in February that she was married to Marritts.
Bush, a member of the progressive “squad” in the House, married Cortney Merritts in February, and she has remained on her campaign payroll.
The Committee to Defeat the President filed a complaint on March 3, alleging that by employing her spouse, Bush violated two laws. According to the allegations against Bush, his campaign improperly used campaign funds for personal use and filed a fraudulent report.
A complaint was also lodged by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust.
Merritts received $62,359 in 2022 for services rendered to Bush.
Fox News has noted that the Bush campaign has spent heavily on security.
Since 2020, it has paid Nathaniel Davis over $137,000 in compensation. The Washington Free Beacon reported that Davis has asserted he is 109 trillion years old, has the ability to conjure tornadoes, and has used anti-Semitic language.
During the 2022 election cycle, Bush paid $225,281 to PEACE Security for security services.
The latest filings reveal that PEACE has received $63,000 this year, while Davis has received $27,500.
When her security expenditure is questioned, Bush has retaliated aggressively.
“You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see? You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative,” she said in 2021, according to The Hill.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bush’s campaign committee issued a statement in April in response to inquiries about the payments.
“The campaign has paid Mr. Merritts for bona fide services provided to the campaign, and not for personal use or personal purposes,” the statement said.