Following Congresswoman Cori Bush’s admission of being under several investigations, including a Department of Justice inquiry, an “urgent” job listing for her team has emerged.
Urgent Staffing Call
Posted on Daybook, a site for political and non-profit job searches, on Tuesday, this opportunity was seeking a communications and staff assistant for a combined position in her congressional office.
The application deadline is set for January 31.
Pre-Investigation Job Listing
Bush’s team clarified to Newsweek that the role was initially announced on her campaign website on January 23, prior to the public revelation of the DOJ investigation, and that they had not coordinated with Daybook for the listing.
Multiple Investigations Confirmed
This posting coincided with Bush’s confirmation of investigations by the DOJ, the House Ethics Committee, and the Federal Election Commission, focusing on her campaign spending and the employment of her husband for security services.
Full Cooperation with DOJ
Bush has asserted her full cooperation with the DOJ inquiry, while refuting claims of misusing federal funds for personal security.
Ongoing Threats
“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” the Missouri Democrat stated on Tuesday.
Safety Struggle in Congress
“As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funs 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,” Missouri Democrat added.
No Experience Necessary
The job advertisement from Representative Cori Bush’s office is seeking “an eager, organized, and detail-oriented individual” to support daily communications and operations. The ideal candidate should have administrative experience, with prior Hill experience not being a necessity.
Congressional Role with Benefits
This role includes managing the front office tasks like answering phones, greeting visitors, and recording constituents’ opinions. It demands exceptional writing abilities, meticulous attention to detail, multitasking skills, capacity to work efficiently under pressure, and flexibility in schedule, including occasional nights and weekends.
The salary offered ranges between $55,000 and $58,000.
Watchdog Questions Spending
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a nonpartisan ethics watchdog, filed a complaint with the FEC in March. It alleged that Bush’s campaign paid $60,000 to Cortney Merritts, Bush’s spouse, for security services without the required security license.
Fair Market Rate or Family Gift
FACT has urged the FEC to determine if these payments were fair market rate or if they constituted an impermissible gift or payment to a family member.
Security Spending Breakdown
Politico has reported that in the first three quarters of 2023, Congresswoman Cori Bush’s expenditures on private security exceeded $129,000, with the report for the last quarter still pending.
Out of these expenses, her campaign paid $42,500 to her husband, Cortney Merritts, for “wage expense” and “security services.”
Hiring Spouse for Security
While House rules prohibit lawmakers from hiring close family members, this restriction does not apply to campaign staff, which Bush cites as her reason for employing her husband, highlighting his “extensive experience” in security.
‘Baseless complaints’
On Tuesday, Bush criticized the complaints against her as “frivolous,” attributing them to far-right groups. She firmly denied the “baseless” claims of misusing campaign funds for personal security services.
Compliance with Federal Laws
“That is simply not true,” Bush asserted. “I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules — and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal elected officials.”
No Wrongdoing
Bush also highlighted a previous inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics, which in October concluded unanimously that she had not engaged in any wrongdoing regarding her campaign’s security expenses.
DOJ Subpoena
This statement follows closely after the Justice Department issued a subpoena to the office of the House Sergeant at Arms for documents related to the case.
The subpoena was publicly read on the House floor.
What Is Being Investigated?
Federal prosecutors are investigating Congresswoman Cori Bush’s use of campaign funds for security services, threats against her, and her decision to hire her now-husband, Cortney Merritts, for security.
Since her election and as a member of the “Squad,” Bush has faced significant right-wing criticism, necessitating heightened security.
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