The federal court in D.C. charged the husband of former Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush on Thursday with fraudulently obtaining over $20,000 from the Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs during the pandemic.
Cortney Merritts, 46, faces federal charges and is indicted on two counts of wire fraud for allegedly exploiting Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the indictment. Merritts allegedly secured over $20,000 through fraudulent applications submitted in 2020 and 2021 under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
U.S. Attorney Edward Martin Jr., along with key federal agents, said Merritts manipulated SBA provisions designed to aid struggling businesses. On July 7, 2020, Merritts allegedly claimed an $8,500 EIDL loan for Vetted Couriers, a business that allegedly had six employees and $32,000 in annual gross revenue. A day later, Merritts applied for another EIDL loan, this time as a sole proprietor, inflating his employee count to 10 and reporting $53,000 in revenue. The SBA denied additional funds upon finding his applications nearly identical.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) questions witnesses during a roundtable on Supreme Court ethics hosted by House Oversight Committee Democrats, Washington, DC, June 11, 2024. (Photo by ALLISON BAILEY/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
The fraudulent schemes escalated when, on April 22, 2021, Merritts secured a $20,832 PPP loan by allegedly and falsely declaring a new business with a gross income of $128,000. He later filed for loan forgiveness, claiming he used the funds for payroll expenses, despite the funds being used for personal purposes. The SBA eventually forgave the PPP loan, including interest, based on his deceptive assertions.
In light of Bush’s husband’s recent legal challenges, it was reported that she continued making payments to him despite the ongoing federal investigation. Federal Election Commission data shows that between April 12 and June 30, Bush paid her husband $15,000 in wages amidst scrutiny over past campaign expenditures on security services, including payments to Merritts, as reported by the New York Times. (RELATED: Dem Rep Tells Reporter She ‘Championed’ Infrastructure Bill Despite Voting Against It)
Bush’s congressional career faltered, partly because pro-Israel groups, such as the Jewish Democratic Council of America and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, heavily funded her primary opponents. Bush’s tenure was plagued by fabrications, accusations of misconduct, and bizarre incidents that also likely played a role in her political decline.
Bush’s tenure was also plagued by controversial proposals, such as her call for $14 trillion in reparations in 2023 and her suggestion to defund the Pentagon, which likely contributed to her political challenges.
Bush did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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