After news broke that a Member of Congress allegedly misused “federal security money,” Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman identified the target of the Department of Justice's criminal investigation.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who allegedly used the funds to pay her husband for private security while advocating for defunding the police.
As Mediaite reports:
Bush, a progressive firebrand, was first elected to the House in 2020. After taking office in 2021, Bush was pressed on the tension between her support for defunding the police and her campaign's profligate spending on security.
“You faced some criticism in recent weeks over your push to defund the police. Campaign records show that you spent roughly $70,000 on private security. Critics say that move is hypocritical. What's your response to those critics?” inquired CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers in one interview.
“They would rather I die? You would rather me die. Is that what you'd want me to see? You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative,” argued Bush in her response. “So either I spend $70,000 on private security over the last few months and I'm here standing now and able to speak, able to help save 11 million people from being evicted. Or I could possibly have a death attempt on my life.”
In October 2022, the New York Post reported that Bush's campaign had spent a staggering sum totaling almost $500,000 on private security during the 2020-2022 campaign cycle.
Bush continues to advocate for defunding the police despite her own profligate spending.
In the CBS News interview, the representative went so far as to accuse police officers of threatening her.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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