The husband of former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat, has been charged with defrauding the federal government after allegedly accepting $20,000 in funds from the pandemic-era Paycheck Safety and Financial Damage Catastrophe Mortgage packages, the Justice Division mentioned.
Cortney Merritts, 46, of St. Louis, falsified particulars about his purported companies to acquire loans from the Small Enterprise Administration in 2020 and 2021, federal prosecutors mentioned Thursday.
He was charged with two counts of wire fraud.
CORI BUSH’S CAMPAIGN PAYS $17,500 MORE TO HER HUSBAND, BRINGING HIS TOTAL TO $120K, NEW FILINGS SHOW
Former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and husband Cortney Merritts, 46, who was charged with wire fraud. (Getty Photos)
“Mr. Merritts intends to plead not guilty to the charges,” Merritts’ lawyer, Justin Gelfand of Margulis Gelfand DiRuzzo & Lambson, mentioned in a press release. “As with any indictment, this is only the government’s version of the story. We look forward to litigating this case in federal court in Washington, D.C.”
Merritts repeatedly utilized for enterprise loans for an organization he mentioned he operated whereas additionally allegedly misrepresenting his income and variety of individuals he employed, authorities mentioned.
CORI BUSH’S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HER HUSBAND FOR PRIVATE SECURITY
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., delivers her concession speech throughout a main election watch celebration Aug. 6, 2024, in St. Louis. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Photos)
One July 2020 utility for a mortgage was rejected as a result of it was practically similar to 1 he submitted beforehand, prosecutors mentioned.
Merritts was indicted a yr after the Justice Division opened an investigation into Bush, a former member of the “Squad,” over marketing campaign funds to her husband.
Bush was defeated in a main final yr amid controversy over her criticism of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults on its residents by Hamas terrorists.
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The so-called “Squad” Bush previously belonged to is a casual group of progressive lawmakers in Congress that features representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.
