Cortney Merritts, husband of former Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, has been charged with defrauding the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic by submitting false loan applications. Prosecutors allege Merritts received thousands of dollars through programs created to help small businesses, but misrepresented key details to secure the funds.
The indictment accuses Merritts of filing multiple loan applications with the Small Business Administration in 2020. In one case, he claimed to operate a business called Vetted Courier and Logistics with six employees and reported $32,000 in annual revenue. That application resulted in a payment from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
🚨 #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 following day, Merritts submitted another request — this time under his own name — claiming a different sole proprietorship with 10 employees and higher earnings. Because the details were nearly identical to the earlier application, the second request was denied.
In addition to the EIDL filings, Merritts applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, asserting that another business he operated in 2020 had $128,000 in annual revenue. Prosecutors say that information was also fabricated.
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
He now faces two counts of wire fraud. The investigation is being led by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General.
Merritts’ attorney, Justin Gelfand, says his client will plead not guilty. He noted that the indictment is the government’s version of events and expressed confidence in contesting the case in court.
Though Bush is not named in the indictment, she had previously come under scrutiny for hiring Merritts as a paid security contractor while in Congress. Critics pointed to the fact that Merritts had no license to operate as a security professional in either Washington, D.C. or Missouri. The House Ethics Committee closed its review of that matter, but the DOJ and FEC also opened investigations, the results of which are unknown.
Bush lost her seat in a 2024 primary after a well-funded challenge backed by pro-Israel organizations. Her outspoken criticism of Israel’s military response drew millions in spending against her candidacy from groups such as the Unit
