Cortney Merritts, the husband of former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, has been indicted on wire fraud charges related to COVID relief funds. Federal prosecutors allege Merritts fraudulently obtained $20,000 in pandemic-era loans by falsifying details about his business operations.

Merritts, 46, applied for multiple loans from the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021. Authorities claim he misrepresented his company’s revenue and workforce to secure funding. One of his applications was rejected after being flagged for containing nearly identical information to a previous submission.

“Mr. Merritts intends to plead not guilty to the charges,” his lawyer, Justin Gelfand, stated. “As with any indictment, this is only the government’s version of the story. We look forward to litigating this case in federal court in Washington, D.C.”

The indictment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Bush’s campaign finances. The Justice Department previously launched an investigation into payments made to Merritts for security services, totaling over $120,000. Critics have questioned whether Bush’s campaign violated federal finance laws. For more updates check our Youtube channel.

Bush, a former Missouri congresswoman and prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” lost her primary election in 2024. Her defeat came after controversy surrounding her stance on Israel and her financial dealings.

Legal experts suggest Merritts could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Federal prosecutors continue to investigate potential misuse of campaign funds, raising further concerns about financial misconduct among public officials.

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