‘Defund the police’ AOC, ‘Squad’ spent $1.2M on security

Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her eight-comrade “squad” of anti-cop lawmakers have shelled out more than $1.2 million in campaign funds on private security since taking office, records show.

Leading the way is Cori Bush (D-Missouri), who has reported spending more than $730,000 on private security – including $75,000 she funneled to her own husband – and Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), whose $272,000-plus tab includes security upgrades at her district offices.

Bush’s campaign spending on security predates her 2021 arrival in the House of Representatives.

Since she first ran for Congress in 2019, she’s paid $736,748 for security services.

Among the benefactors of her donor’s largesse was St. Louis-based Peace Security, a pro-gun, right-wing private security firm that racked up $380,947 despite reportedly promoting the Second Amendment — in sharp contrast to Democratic socialist Bush’s anti-gun campaign messaging.

Her campaign also paid military veteran Cortney Merrits, who Bush married in February, $75,000 to providing private security work for the congresswoman.

Bush was slapped with a Federal Election Commission complaint in March after it was revealed her campaign paid her now-husband to provide security — even though he didn’t have the required license.

Bush began making payments to her longtime lover less than two weeks before her unoccupied vehicle was shot at in St, Louis in January 2022, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

The extreme far-lefty did not return messages but declared in a 2021 CBS interview that — despite advocating to defund police — she needs private security because she faced death threats.

Ocasio-Cortez is second among squad members in campaign security spending, shelling out $272,914.67 since taking office in 2019.

Her expenses include nearly $2,000 for security system installations at her Queens and Bronx district offices, more than $20,000 on “internet” or “digital” security, $4,263 for office security equipment and $521 for what she noted in FEC records as “security barriers.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) ranked third, spending $125,683.75 on security services since taking office in 2019.

Rounding out the rest of the squad: Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) spent $64,763; Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) $20,480; Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) $7,872; and Greg Casar (D-Texas) $1,570; while Summer Lee (D-Florida) has yet to document security spending. Both Lee and Casar are freshman members who joined Congress in January.

Like all members of Congress, the “squad” separately receives a taxpayer-funded security detail provided by the U.S. Capitol Police.

Of the $1.23 million in total spending, $1.15 million was doled out after the May 25, 2020 police killing of George Floyd, which spurred nationwide riots and calls to defund police.

Critics called the security spending “hypocritical” considering squad members are heading the “defund the police” movement.

Zach Smith, a legal fellow at the Conservative group Heritage Foundation, called the security spending “incredibly hypocritical” considering squad members “have been at the forefront of the defund the police movement,” which he believes has spurred crime increases in their own districts and nationwide.

“Cori Bush, AOC, all the members of the squad — they and their families deserve to be safe and secure in their homes and communities — but so does everyone else,” said Smith, who co-authored “Rogue Prosecutors,” a book outlining how billionaire George Soros’ “progressive prosecutor” movement empowers criminals.

“Unfortunately while they get their own taxpayer-funded security detail … on top of what they’re paying for out of pocket” in campaign funds for security, “their constituents do not and must rely on police or their Second Amendment rights” to carry firearms “that the squad also opposes.”

Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, said he also believes it’s “hypocritical” of Ocasio-Cortez and her crew of cop-hating socialist pols to push “defund the Police” and “Black Lives Matters” mantras considering their spending habits.

“They’re spending all this money for their security but they are not worried about the security of their constituents,” he said.

Kamenar also said Bush’s payments to her longtime lover and husband “raise questions” about whether he’s legitimately providing security help.

Ocasio-Cortez and Omar did not return messages.

AOC “SQUAD” SECURITY SPENDING

1-Cori Bush D-Missouri (2021-present): $736,748

2-Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-NY (2019-present): $272,914

3- Ilhan Omar D-Minnesota (2019-present): $125,683

4- Ayanna Pressley D-Mass. (2019-present): $64,763

5 – Rashida Tlaib D-Mich. (2019-present): $20,480

6- Jamaal Bowman D-NY (2021-present): $7,872

7- Greg Casar D-Texas (Jan. 2023-present): $1,570

8: Summer Lee D-Florida (Jan. 2023-present): None

TOTAL: $1.23 million

Source: Federal Election Commission