Cortney Merritts, the husband of former Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud stemming from fraudulent applications for pandemic relief loans. Prosecutors say Merritts filed false claims to access funds meant for struggling businesses.
Court documents reveal Merritts submitted a request to the Small Business Administration on April 3, 2020, claiming his business, Vetted Courier and Logistics, employed six people and earned $32,000 in the previous year. He received funds the following day, which prosecutors say he used for personal expenses.
🚨 #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
Shortly after that, he filed another application using his own name, stating that a different business with 10 employees had earned $53,000. The government rejected that submission due to matching information from the earlier claim. A separate Paycheck Protection Program application, which claimed $128,000 in revenue from a newly created business, was also flagged as inaccurate.
Merritts faces two counts of wire fraud and could face prison time if convicted. The FBI and SBA Inspector General are leading the investigation.
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
Justin Gelfand, representing Merritts, said the charges will be challenged and insisted his client will plead not guilty. He emphasized the presumption of innocence as the case moves forward.
While Bush is not named in the indictment, the DOJ and FEC previously looked into campaign payments she made to Merritts for security work. The controversy was heightened by reports that Merritts lacked a license to operate as security personnel in either of the jurisdictions relevant to Bush’s campaign activity.
Bush was defeated in the 2024 Democratic primary after heavy opposition from pro-Israel groups. Millions were spent to back her challenger following criticism of her remarks on Middle East policy.
Federal investigators have continued prosecuting pandemic-era loan fraud cases, with Merritts joining a growing list of individuals charged years after the money was disbursed.
