Rep. Cori Bush gave a presser in front of the Capitol Building on Tuesday to address the criminal allegations against her.
As RedState reported, Bush is facing a DOJ investigation for allegedly misusing funds to pay for “security services.” That tracks with prior reporting from early 2023 showing she paid her then-boyfriend $60,000 despite him not being licensed to provide the service in Missouri.
Overall, Bush paid over $500,000 for “security services” during the 2022 election year alone, a number that immediately raised suspicions given how inflated it was.
READ: Cori Bush Paying Her Now-Husband $60,000 for ‘Security’ Just Turned Into a Bona-Fide Scandal
Cori Bush addresses DOJ investigation:
“I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used funds for personal security is simply false….right-wing organizations have launched baseless complaints against me.” pic.twitter.com/1JvJP6qdzJ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 30, 2024
BUSH: 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 DOJ is reviewing my campaign spending on security services. We are fully cooperating with this investigation and I would like to take this opportunity to outline the facts and the truth.
The first very notable mention in the clip is that the DOJ is investigating how she used campaign funds to pay for security services. The original report from Punchbowl News said government funds, but it’s long been known that Bush has used an exorbitant and unusual amount of campaign cash to pay various “bodyguards” over the years. That offers some clarity on exactly what is being looked into.
From there, Bush immediately played the victim, which is always her go-to move to explain away her corrupt behavior.
BUSH: Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life. As a rank-and-file 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 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 simply is not true.
Looking at the security spending of other House members, including people like Rep. Ilhan Omar (who also claims to get death threats all the time), Bush’s spending is far higher than normal. As reported, Omar only spent $65,000 for security services in 2022. That is a small fraction of what Bush spent. The idea that the Missouri congresswoman is unique in receiving threats, thereby justifying her outrageous and suspicious spending on “security services” doesn’t make sense.
Bush then addressed the elephant in the room, which is that she was (and possibly still is?) paying her now-husband lots of money for a job he wasn’t even licensed to do.
BUSH: In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role in 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 fair-market-rate.
What exactly was his “experience?” Bush doesn’t say, but again, he was not legally licensed to provide security services in the district she represents and resides in so her personal opinion on the matter would seem rather irrelevant. You can’t pay someone with campaign funds to do something they can’t even legally do.
The entire situation stinks to high heaven. Any politician that contracts their spouse, knowing campaign money will then flow to them personally, is corrupt. That’s true even if the service provided is legitimate, and in this case, it doesn’t appear it was.
Bush ends the presser by proclaiming how great she is and once against blaming “right-wing organizations” for the allegations against her. Of note is that the DOJ is not “right-wing.” Not in the slightest, and they would not be involved here if there wasn’t some fire behind the smoke. The DOJ does not just jump in and start investigating Democrat politicians based on “right-wing” ethics complaints.
Bush presents as someone who knows she’s guilty. I would think there’s far more that’s going to be revealed in the near future.
