Remember Cori Bush? The firebrand “Squad” member who burst onto the Congressional scene with her radical calls to defund the police and dismantle our traditional institutions? Well, the voters of Missouri’s 1st district certainly remembered her policies when they showed her the door in the 2024 Democratic primary, choosing the significantly more moderate Wesley Bell instead.

But it seems the former Congresswoman’s troubles are only beginning. While Bush may have lost her seat due to her extreme positions (including her controversial statements about Israel following the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks), her household is now facing something far more serious than electoral defeat.

When It Rains, It Pours: Hubby’s Legal Woes

The Department of Justice dropped quite the bombshell this week: Cortney Merritts, Bush’s husband, has been indicted on federal wire fraud charges. The 46-year-old St. Louis resident allegedly filed bogus applications for pandemic-era relief programs in 2020 and 2021, securing thousands in taxpayer dollars through deception.

From ‘The Daily Wire’:
The indictment alleges that he obtained nearly $21,000 from the programs for his own benefit and enjoyment by lying on the applications about a company that he owned, including how many employees he had and the amount of revenue the company generated.

According to prosecutors, Merritts falsified details about his supposed business to obtain these loans from the Small Business Administration, misrepresenting both his revenue and the number of people he employed. One July 2020 application was reportedly rejected because it was nearly identical to one he had submitted previously – apparently, creativity isn’t his strong suit.

Defunding Police While Funding Security

The irony here is thicker than molasses. While Bush was on her soapbox demanding we “defund the police,” her campaign was busy shelling out more than $750,000 on private security services since 2019. Even more eyebrow-raising? Much of that security money flowed directly to her husband, Merritts.

This is the same husband who now stands accused of defrauding pandemic relief programs – programs that Democrats loudly championed and passed while painting themselves as protectors of the little guy. While Democrats in Congress were crafting these massive spending bills, it appears some of their own inner circles were figuring out how to cash in on them. It’s worth asking: How many struggling small business owners could have used that $21,000 legitimately during the pandemic?

The Squad’s Squandered Trust

Bush’s story is becoming a familiar pattern among progressive politicians who preach one thing publicly while their private actions tell a completely different story. They rail against capitalism while enriching themselves, demand economic sacrifices from ordinary Americans while ensuring their own comfort, and promote radical policies that they themselves would never have to live with.

When Bush lost her primary to Wesley Bell, it wasn’t just a rejection of her extremist views – it was voters recognizing the growing disconnect between progressive promises and practical results. The March 2025 indictment of her husband only serves to underscore why Americans are increasingly skeptical of politicians who claim to be fighting for the little guy while their families seem to be cashing in.

Merritts’ attorney insists his client will plead not guilty, stating, “We look forward to litigating this case in the courtroom.” That’s certainly his right, but the court of public opinion has already been rendering verdicts on the “Squad” and their circle – and the polling doesn’t look good.

Key Takeaways:

• Former “Squad” member Cori Bush was defeated in her primary after alienating voters with radical positions.
• Her husband Cortney Merritts faces federal wire fraud charges for allegedly defrauding COVID program of $21,000.
• Bush spent over $750,000 on security services (including payments to her husband) while publicly advocating to defund the police.

Sources: Daily Wires, Fox News