Federal prosecutors have indicted Cortney Merritts, the husband of ex-Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), in connection with fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications. The charges come nearly five years after Merritts allegedly misused programs meant to assist small businesses during the economic shutdown.
Merritts is accused of submitting false claims under both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program. In April 2020, he filed an EIDL application for a business he called Vetted Courier and Logistics, claiming six employees and $32,000 in gross earnings. The application was approved, and funds were sent.
🚨 #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
The next day, Merritts attempted to secure another loan — this time under his own name — and claimed the existence of a separate business with a larger staff and higher income. Due to its similarity to the earlier application, that submission was denied.
JUST IN: Former Rep. Cori Bush’s husband indicted for wire fraud, accused of submitting false applications to receive COVID relief funds.
Shocker!
The development comes following a separate investigation where Bush is accused of paying her husband $150,000 to serve as her… pic.twitter.com/LUnux6LVtI
— Real Life Footage (@RealLifeFootage) March 21, 2025
Authorities say Merritts then went on to apply for PPP funds, claiming a new business he started in 2020 brought in $128,000 in revenue. Investigators say this application, like the others, was based on false statements. The total amount of money allegedly obtained reached $20,000.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Merritts faces two counts of wire fraud.
Merritts’ lawyer, Justin Gelfand, has stated that his client will plead not guilty. He emphasized that the government’s version of events is not the full story and said the matter will be resolved in court.
Cori Bush has not been charged in the case but was previously investigated for using campaign money to pay Merritts for security services. Records show Merritts held no security license in the areas where he worked. The House Ethics Committee dropped its review, but federal agencies had also opened their own inquiries.
Bush lost her 2024 primary after heavy opposition from pro-Israel donors who backed a challenger. Millions were spent to defeat her following her public criticism of Israel’s military operations.
