Former Rep. Cori Bush’s Husband Charged in Alleged COVID Loan Scheme
The husband of former Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is facing charges for allegedly defrauding taxpayers out of more than $20,000 in a COVID loan scheme. Cortney Merritts, 46, has been indicted on two counts of wire fraud by the DC US Attorney’s Office for filing fraudulent applications with the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021.
According to the indictment, Merritts received an $8,500 loan from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) for his moving business, Vetted Couriers, in July 2020. He claimed the business had six employees and generated $32,000 in revenue the previous year. Shortly after, he submitted another application under a different business name, claiming it had ten employees and $53,000 in revenue.
The Small Business Administration rejected Merritts’ applications after discovering the fraudulent nature of the documents. A year later, in April 2021, Merritts applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under yet another business name, “Cortney Merritts,” claiming it generated $128,000 in gross income in 2020.
Despite the questionable claims, Merritts received a $20,832 PPP loan which he allegedly used for his “personal benefit and enjoyment,” as stated by federal prosecutors. The indictment did not specify how the funds were spent.
Merritts’ attorney has stated that his client intends to plead not guilty to the charges. Meanwhile, Cori Bush, the former congresswoman, is not implicated in the indictment. However, Bush has faced scrutiny in the past for using campaign funds to pay Merritts for security services, even though he did not have the necessary license.
The Justice Department was reportedly investigating Bush over her use of campaign funds for private security, but the current status of the investigation remains unknown. Bush has not been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to Merritts’ alleged fraudulent activities.
The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in financial matters, especially when it comes to government assistance programs designed to support businesses during times of crisis. It serves as a reminder that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities will be held accountable for their actions.
