Cori Bush Defends Private Security at Capitol: ‘You Would Rather Me Die?’

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) on Thursday said she still supports defunding the police, despite having spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal security this year.

“Defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets, because we’re trying to save lives,” Bush told CBS News in an interview outside the Capitol.

When asked whether it’s hypocritical to hold that position while also spending nearly $70,000 on personal security since the Jan. 6 attack, Bush said the other alternative might be death.

“You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see? You want to see me die? {snip}” she responded.

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Bush spent nearly $70,000 on personal security, more than any other House lawmaker {snip}

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“My security is not against communal violence,” she added. “My security is not to keep me safe from the people of St. Louis. It’s to keep me safe from those racist attempts made against my life.”

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