Ah, the tangled webs we weave when virtue signaling meets real-world accountability. In yet another shining example of the “rules for thee but not for me” crowd, it seems the husband of former progressive darling Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) is now facing federal charges for allegedly pulling a little pandemic-era sleight of hand.
Cortney Merritts, 46, was slapped with two counts of wire fraud this week, accused of fudging the numbers on his applications to the Small Business Administration for COVID relief funds. You know, those programs meant to help struggling businesses keep their doors open during lockdowns that his wife probably advocated for in the first place.
According to the indictment, Merritts helped himself to just under $21,000 by inventing fantasy employees and inflating revenue for a company that—surprise—apparently wasn’t the booming enterprise he claimed it was. All this while millions of Americans were trying to scrape by under the crushing weight of shutdowns and red tape, courtesy of policies pushed by the very political class Cori Bush belongs to. Let that one sink in.
And if you’re wondering whether this was some politically motivated witch hunt cooked up by MAGA country, think again. The investigation began under the Biden administration and was pursued by the U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C., led by Ed Martin—yes, a Trump nominee, but one who’s been serving under a Democrat-run Department of Justice. Funny how that part always gets glossed over when the headlines don’t fit the usual “Republicans pounce” narrative.
🚨 #BREAKING: The husband of ousted Rep. Cori Bush, a member of AOC’s squad, was just charged by DOJ with WIRE FRAUD for fraudulently taking $20K in COVID relief
THANK YOU DOGE and DOJ for going after these crooks!
Bush ALSO paid her husband $5K PER MONTH in regulated funds for… pic.twitter.com/UNdkLo7CCh
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 20, 2025
Of course, Merritts’ lawyer is already spinning the usual defense playbook, saying they’re ready to “litigate this case in the courtroom.” Translation: buckle up for months of procedural noise, motions to dismiss, and a whole lot of attempts to reframe the facts as misunderstandings. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors aren’t playing around—they’re demanding Merritts forfeit any property linked to the alleged scam.
But wait, it gets even juicier. This isn’t the first time Merritts’ name has surfaced in legal gray zones. Remember that time last year when Cori Bush was under federal investigation herself? Allegations swirled around her campaign’s generous payments to Merritts—yes, her own husband—for “personal security” services. Because nothing says “I’m serious about ethics” like funneling tens of thousands of campaign dollars to your spouse while preaching about how evil capitalism is. Now, to be fair, no charges were filed, and Bush hasn’t been formally accused of any crime. But you’d be forgiven for raising an eyebrow. Or two.
Let’s not forget the backdrop here. Cori Bush built her political brand on being radically anti-police, loudly pushing to defund law enforcement while simultaneously spending over $750,000 on private security. Her justification? She claimed there were threats on her life. That’s a serious matter, sure. But when your security budget rivals that of a small-town police department, and your own husband is cashing the checks, it starts to look a little less like necessity and a lot more like hypocrisy.
It’s also worth noting that Bush is no longer representing Missouri’s 1st District. In a twist that probably shocked no one paying attention, she lost her seat in 2024 after being ousted in the primary by Wesley Bell, a more moderate Democrat. Apparently, even her own party had enough of the posturing and performative outrage.
So here we are: another chapter in the progressive playbook where the rhetoric doesn’t match the receipts. It’s not just about one alleged fraud case. It’s about the larger pattern—preaching justice while dodging accountability, calling for transparency while funneling funds to friends and family, and demanding others “pay their fair share” while quietly grabbing a slice of the pie for themselves. The swamp’s still full, and the self-declared swamp-drainers have taken up real estate in it.
