Husband of former ‘Squad’ Rep. Cori Bush charged with wire fraud

The Justice Department recently charged Cortney Merritts, the husband of former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat, with defrauding the government. Merritts allegedly accepted $20,000 in payments from the Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs during the pandemic. According to federal prosecutors, Merritts falsified information about his businesses to secure loans from the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021. He is facing two counts of wire fraud in connection to this scheme.

In response to the charges, Merritts’ lawyer, Justin Gelfand of Margulis Gelfand DiRuzzo & Lambson, stated that his client intends to plead not guilty. Gelfand emphasized that the indictment only represents the government’s side of the story, and they are prepared to defend Merritts in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Authorities revealed that Merritts repeatedly applied for loans using false information about his company, including revenue and the number of employees. One loan application in July 2020 was rejected because it closely resembled a previous submission.

Interestingly, the indictment of Merritts comes after the Justice Department initiated an investigation into Cori Bush over campaign payments made to her husband. Bush, a former member of the progressive “Squad” in Congress, faced criticism and was defeated in a primary election last year following controversy surrounding her remarks about Israel’s response to attacks by Hamas terrorists in October 2023.

The “Squad” is a group of progressive lawmakers that includes prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. The group advocates for progressive policies and has often been at the center of political debates.

As the legal proceedings against Merritts unfold, it remains to be seen how this case will impact the reputation of Cori Bush and her involvement in progressive politics. The allegations of fraud highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in government programs, especially during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.