Something Blue: Defund the Police Champion Cori Bush Weds Private Security Guard in Secret Ceremony

Bush’s financial and romantic ties to his bodyguard raise ethical concerns

Squad member Rep. Cori Bush (D., Mo.) Although she wants to defund police, that didn’t stop Cori Bush (D., Mo.) from secretly marrying her private security officer in February.

Bush’s Office confirmed the news in a Statement Monday she was married “the love of her life,” Cortney Merritts during a secret marriage ceremony in February. Bush stated that Merritts is a former military vet and has been her romantic companion since before she joined Congress 2021. According to the Federal Election Commission, Merritts’ relationship with Bush has yielded a huge financial return. The campaign paid Merritts over $62,000 in January 2022. Records. Bush started paying her lover two weeks earlier than her unoccupied car. Gunfire engulfs the area St. Louis, January 20, 2022

Federal campaign watchdogs may be concerned about Bush’s romantic, financial, and financial ties to Merritts. Bush is a prominent voice in Congress who works to “defund the police,” But her Campaign It also Shelled out Since 2019, she has spent $627,000 in private security service, making her one the largest spenders of private security services in lower chamber. Bush’s security provider is a right-wing company that supports the Second Amendment. Washington Free Beacon reported.

“Cori Bush’s payments of $62,360 for security services to her lover and now husband from her campaign funds raises the question of whether he is being paid for providing legitimate security services or simply for escorting her to events as her partner,” Paul Kamenar, National Legal and Policy Center counsel.

Bush once Telled Her constituents “suck it up” She was able to justify spending hundreds of thousands on private security services, while simultaneously working in Congress to remove police from the streets. “Defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets, because we’re trying to save lives,” Bush spoke.

According to Abbas Alaweih, chief of staff for the Missouri Democrat, Merritts has been a bit of a fixture within Bush’s congressional offices. Alaweih stressed that Bush’s taxpayer-funded security office does not employ the private security guard. “our team has come to know and appreciate Mr. Merritts as a loving and caring Congressional spouse.”

Bush has done everything in the past to hide her lover’s identity. She