Politics
DOJ Probes Cori Bush’s Taxpayer-Funded Security
Clear Facts
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) is conducting a criminal probe into Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush for spending taxpayer money on private security.
- Bush, who has advocated for defunding the police, spent over $30,000 on her own security according to her April Quarterly 2021 financial report.
- Bush released a statement confirming the DOJ’s review of her campaign’s spending on security services, asserting that she has not used federal funds for personal security and has complied with all applicable laws and House rules.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly conducting a criminal probe of Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, who has repeatedly pushed to defund the police, after spending taxpayer money on private security for herself. According to Punchbowl News, the Justice Department has subpoenaed the House Sergeant at Arms for records relating to the misspending of federal security money. The Daily Caller first reported in April that Bush and members of the far-left Democratic Party group in Congress called “the Squad” spent thousands of campaign funds on private security.
According to the Statement of Disbursements of the House records, Bush also spent taxpayer funds on a day of private security for herself between Jan. 1 to March 31. Bush, a freshman Democrat who has vocally pushed to defund the police, spent over $30,000 on her own security, according to her April Quarterly 2021 financial report.
Bush sent out a tweet in Dec. 2020 criticizing former President Barack Obama for not calling to defund the police. “With all due respect, Mr. President — let’s talk about losing people. We lost Michael Brown Jr. We lost Breonna Taylor. We’re losing our loved ones to police violence. It’s not a slogan. It’s a mandate for keeping our people alive. Defund the police,” Bush said in the tweet.
The Daily Caller contacted Bush’s office about the reported DOJ criminal probe, to which Bush later released a statement: “First and foremost, I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest levels of integrity. I also believe in transparency which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services. We are fully cooperating in this investigation, and I would like to take this opportunity to outline the facts and the truth. Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life. As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services. I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false. In recent months, right-wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services. That is simply not true. I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules—and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal elected officials. In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role on the campaign. In accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate. These frivolous complaints have resulted in a number of investigations, some of which are still ongoing. The Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics are currently reviewing the matter, as is the Department of Justice. We are fully cooperating in all of these pending investigations. In September of last year, after conducting a months-long investigation, the Office of Congressional Ethics found no wrongdoing and voted unanimously to dismiss the case. I look forward to this same outcome from all pending investigations. I am under no illusion that these right-wing organizations will stop politicizing and pursuing efforts to attack me and the work that the people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to do: to lead boldly, to legislate change my constituents can feel, and to save lives.”
Clear Thoughts (op-ed)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is conducting a criminal probe into Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush for spending taxpayer money on private security. This investigation comes on the heels of her advocating for defunding the police, while spending over $30,000 on her own security, according to her April Quarterly 2021 financial report.
Bush’s hypocrisy is staggering. She has been a vocal critic of the police, going so far as to criticize former President Barack Obama for not calling to defund the police. Yet, she has no problem spending thousands of dollars on her own protection.
In response to the DOJ criminal probe, Bush released a statement asserting that she has not used federal funds for personal security and has complied with all applicable laws and House rules. However, the ongoing investigation and her blatant double standard speak volumes about her true priorities.
As a conservative, I believe in the importance of law and order, and the role of the police in maintaining a safe and secure society. It’s time for politicians like Bush to stop playing politics with our safety and start focusing on the real issues facing our nation.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Gerald Scott Ladd
February 1, 2024 at 6:58 pm
She caresabout drug addicts. Isnn’t she special.She’ll kil babies all day lomg!
Louie R Guertin
February 1, 2024 at 7:25 pm
Interesting that someone does not believe in a public security force has a private onen. Hypocrit
Go Woke Go Broke Bush
February 2, 2024 at 12:33 am
So bush you can have private security cause your now in congress but us everyday hard working Americans can’t have the same security well I’m here to tell you back off biatch the police are the real people’s choice of America’s security I along with the people of America BACK the Blue 100% regardless of what you say maybe if crime wasn’t so rampant through the country it would be different but all blue states have sky high crime murders, robberies, assaults car jacking grand thefts larceny retail thefts have sky rocketed because of defunding to the police criminals who committed murders in these blue states are released back into the streets here’s an example: a man murdered a couple in their home when he illegal Broke in to rob them he had a gun and killed them it was all caught on a home security tapes he shot this couple point blank the leftists DA had the tape and released him on no bail one week later he murdered again still not in jail for this triple homicide oh wait no cops around any more over 2000 lost their jobs in this blue state to defunding and a bought and paid for da nothing who won’t follow the Rule of Law! Your a moron if you think we don’t need the police for protection against criminals who think they have a right to rob, steal, maim, murder innocent people and rape innocent girls and pedophiles against children your fking wrong! I will continue to,use My Second Amendment Right’s if you leftist keep defund the police and I will not allow my home to,be invaded by criminals who want to do bodily harm to my family DO YOU UNDERSTAND That I have a Constitutional Right to bare Arms to protect my family and home do you understand that! My Constitutional Right to Buy Guns!
Gregory Coccia
February 2, 2024 at 7:12 am
This woman is like ALL dems; ONLY IN IT FOR THE $$$, and not a CARE for ANYONE/ANYTHING else!!!
Irishgal
April 10, 2024 at 5:22 am
Seem Missouri (her dist.) needs to primary, get Bush out. Hope they wake up.