Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is facing allegations of misusing campaign funds for private security and is under federal investigation, she confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
Bush, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been dubbed as part of the “Squad,” a group of self-described socialists in the House of Representatives.
If charged and found guilty, the Missouri Democrat would face a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison, with a maximum sentence of five years.
Bush, a second-term lawmaker, denied any wrongdoing and said she is “fully cooperating” with federal prosecutors.
“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,” Bush said. “I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services.”
Her statement came a day after the Justice Department subpoenaed the office of the House Sergeant of Arms for related documents. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Some lawmakers have faced high-profile threats. Steve Scalise survived a gunshot from a far-Left ideologue in 2017, and Nancy Pelosi’s husband was assaulted by a deranged intruder in 2022.
However, Bush has made wild, unsubstantiated claims about threats to her safety in the past. She falsely claimed in 2021 to have been targeted by white supremacist gunmen at a #BlackLivesMatter protest in 2015.
Bush has also faced allegations of hypocrisy for demanding “defund the police” while spending oodles of money on private security for herself.
Bush’s campaign has also come under investigation by the Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics. Bush was hit with an ethics complaint for paying bodyguard Cortney Merritts at least $60,000 with campaign funds in 2022, and she stirred even more controversy by marrying the bodyguard the following year.
The Office of Congressional Ethics unanimously cleared Bush of any wrongdoing in October. Meanwhile, the FEC has remained silent on the matter.
Bush represents a district rated D+27. In August, she’s set to face a primary challenger, St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell.
Take a look —
🚨DOJ conducting criminal probe into “Squad” member Rep. Cori Bush in relation to misspending of federal security money
Could this be connected to the THOUSANDS she paid to her HUSBAND for private security while voting to defund the police for Americans?
Throwback to the time… pic.twitter.com/Zy8Xl7bq8E
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 30, 2024
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.