Justice Department Investigating Cori Bush’s Handling of Campaign Funds

The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into whether Representative Cori Bush mishandled campaign funds, including when she hired her romantic partner — who is now her husband — to provide her with security services.

The Office of Congressional Ethics investigated the security arrangement by Ms. Bush, a Democrat from Missouri, last year. The office voted to recommend dismissal of the allegations after concluding that her husband, Cortney Merritts, had performed “bona fide” security work and did not appear to have been overpaid, and that Ms. Bush faced a level of threats that justified the work.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ms. Bush said that she was “fully cooperating” with the Justice Department investigation.

“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” Ms. Bush said. “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.”

The House Ethics Committee is also investigating the matter, Ms. Bush said.

Ms. Bush has spoken out about the death threats she has received on Capitol Hill. She spent more on security than any other member of the House in the months after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol.

People familiar with the investigation, who spoke about it on the condition of anonymity, said federal prosecutors were asking questions similar to those asked by the congressional investigators about Ms. Bush’s security expenditures and the involvement of Mr. Merritts. The Justice Department inquiry has included subpoenas to members of Ms. Bush’s campaign team.