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Post by Webster on Jan 30, 2024 14:01:47 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Justice department investigating progressive Democrat Cori Bush - reportPunchbowl News reports that the justice department has opened a criminal investigation into progressive House Democrat Cori Bush for misspending federal money intended for her security: The report comes after the House clerk yesterday announced that the sergeant at arms, the chamber’s top law enforcement official, had received a grand jury subpoena for an undisclosed matter. A member of “The Squad” of progressive female lawmakers, Bush is the first Black woman to represent a Missouri district in Congress.
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Post by Webster on Jan 30, 2024 14:10:17 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Cori Bush confirms justice department investigation, says allegations 'simply false'Congresswoman Cori Bush confirmed that she is under investigation by the justice department, and denied that she has misused federal money for security services. “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,” said Bush, a member of “The Squad” group of progressive Democratic women. “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.” Bush, who represents the St Louis, Missouri area, decried what she said were untrue rightwing attacks aimed at her husband’s role in providing security services: 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.
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Post by Webster on Jan 31, 2024 16:23:54 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Here’s more from the Guardian’s Gloria Oladipo and Lauren Gambino on Cori Bush’s announcement yesterday that she was under federal investigation: The congresswoman Cori Bush has confirmed that the US Department of Justice is investigating whether the Missouri Democrat misused campaign funds for security services, an accusation she denied as “simply false”.
In a statement, Bush said her campaign was “fully cooperating” with the investigation and said she had always “complied with all applicable laws and House rules”. “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,” said Bush, part of a progressive group of Democratic women known as “the Squad”.
She added that the allegations were rooted in “baseless complaints” raised by rightwing organizations who have long made her a target.
In a lengthy statement, Bush, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist turned lawmaker who represents the St Louis area, said she has endured threats to her “physical safety and life” since before she took office in 2021.
Bush said that as a rank-and-file member of Congress she is not entitled to receive security protection by the House and has instead used campaign funds to pay for security services. “I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services,” she said. “Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false.”
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