In a striking display of irony, socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her “Squad” reportedly spent over $1.2 million in campaign funds on private security since taking office.
This revelation comes despite their vocal support for defunding the police, raising eyebrows and sparking criticism from conservative circles.
Leading the pack is Rep. Cori Bush, who has reportedly spent more than $730,000 on private security. This includes an eyebrow-raising $75,000 paid to her own husband.
Not far behind is Ocasio-Cortez, who racked up a bill of over $272,000, which includes security upgrades at her district offices.
It’s worth noting Bush’s spending on security predates her 2021 arrival in the House of Representatives, with records showing she paid $736,748 for security services since her first run for Congress in 2019.
Interestingly, among the beneficiaries of Bush’s campaign funds was St. Louis-based Peace Security, a pro-gun, right-wing private security firm.
Despite its promotion of the Second Amendment — a stark contrast to Bush’s anti-gun campaign messaging — the firm received $380,947. Bush’s campaign also paid $75,000 to military veteran Cortney Merrits, her husband, for private security work.
Bush faced a Federal Election Commission complaint in March after it was revealed her campaign paid her husband for security services without the required license.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez has spent nearly $2,000 on security system installations at her Queens and Bronx district offices, over $20,000 on digital security, and $4,263 for office security equipment.
Zach Smith, a legal fellow at the conservative group, Heritage Foundation, labeled the squad’s security spending as “incredibly hypocritical.”
He pointed out while these lawmakers enjoy taxpayer-funded security detail and additional private security funded by campaign money, their constituents must rely on police or their Second Amendment rights for protection — rights that the squad opposes.
Other members of the squad have also spent significant amounts on security.
Rep. Ilhan Omar ranked third, spending $125,683.75 on security services since taking office in 2019. Ayanna Pressley spent $64,763. Rashida Tlaib spent $20,480. Jamaal Bowman spent $7,872 and Greg Casar spent $1,570.
Summer Lee, a freshman member, has yet to document any security spending.
Of the total $1.23 million spent on security, $1.15 million was spent following the May 25, 2020 police killing of George Floyd. This ignited nationwide riots and calls to defund the police. Critics argue this spending is hypocritical given the squad’s leading role in the “defund the police” movement.
Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, echoed this sentiment, calling it “hypocritical” for Ocasio-Cortez and her colleagues to push for defunding the police while spending heavily on their own security.
He also raised questions about Bush’s payments to her husband, questioning the legitimacy of his security services.