Rep. Cori Bush defended hiring her husband for security amid a DOJ probe into alleged misuse of campaign funds, stating it was difficult to find reliable security. She spent over $500,000 on private security while advocating for defunding the police, with her husband receiving over $120,000 in payments. Bush claimed they struggled to retain reliable security staff until her husband volunteered, citing his military background and experience in security work. The interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid has been criticized as softball, and Bush has denied misusing campaign funds for personal security.
Rep. Cori Bush's campaign has paid her husband a total of $120,000, with recent filings showing an additional $17,500 in payments, raising concerns about campaign spending on private security. The payments to her husband, Cortney Merritts, have drawn scrutiny as he did not have a private security license and his role in the campaign has been questioned. The Justice Department is now investigating Bush's campaign expenditures on security services, while the Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics are also reviewing the matter. Bush has stated that she used campaign funds for security services due to threats to her safety and is fully cooperating with the investigations.
In South Africa, violent crime rates are soaring, with an average of 75 killings and 400 robberies reported daily. The police force is struggling to cope, leading to a surge in the private security industry. With over 2.7 million registered private security officers, the industry has grown significantly, now outnumbering the police and military combined. However, these services are only accessible to the wealthy, leaving the majority of South Africans reliant on an under-resourced police force. The government plans to introduce 10,000 new police officers by 2024 to address the issue, while Gauteng province has deployed crime wardens to support police operations.
An investigation is underway after a private security guard shot and killed someone near the Uptown transit center in Charlotte. The guard perceived a deadly threat, but it remains to be seen whether the shooting was justified. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the incident and has assured the public that the transit center is safe. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police.
Wizards of the Coast hired Pinkerton agents to recover an unreleased Magic: The Gathering card expansion set that was leaked by a YouTuber who had purchased the cards from a supplier friend. The company confirmed hiring the private security firm but was apologetic about the mix-up. The set is scheduled to be released on May 12, with official reveals set to begin at the start of the month.
A drag event in Chardon, Ohio, was held as scheduled with many protesters and supporters turning out. The event included a sold-out drag show brunch and an afternoon drag story hour. Police officers, both on foot and horseback, were present at the event as protestors held signs and bull horns. Organizers hired their own private security for each event, which included the use of metal detectors to check for weapons. All protestors left the event once it started storming.
