'Defund the police' advocate Cori Bush hired police as private security, costing officers their jobs

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Freshman "Squad" firebrand Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., an outspoken proponent of defunding the police, hired two sheriff’s deputies as private security guards, eventually costing them their jobs.

A new report revealed that the "Squad" member hired two sheriff’s deputies to provide private security for her, coming on the heels of reports that the progressive had spent tens of thousands of dollars on private security while pushing defunding law enforcement.

Bush was caught with the deputies on surveillance camera footage while touring multiple St. Louis jails, News 4 reported.

CORI BUSH DEFENDS CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE WHILE HAVING PRIVATE SECURITY: ‘YOU WOULD RATHER ME DIE?’

The deputies, Tylance Jackson and Maurice Thompson, were terminated from their jobs after the report was published, with St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts telling News 4 that the pair did not get approval to work the gig.

Betts also said he had given both Jackson and Thompson multiple warnings in the past for the same behavior and that he was surprised to see them working security for Bush after being caught working security for the congresswoman before.

The sheriff also noted that the pair of former deputies did not have the proper licensing to work as security in St. Louis.

Jackson said he believed the firing was unfair.

"I do feel that the hand that was dealt to us was unfair and unjust," Jackson told the outlet. "You let us go, but you still have a plethora of individuals doing that but you don't say anything."

Bush has been an active proponent of defunding the police throughout her tenure in Congress, and defended hiring private security while trying to dismantle public policing by saying she has had attempts on her life and still has "too much work to do" in Congress.

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"They would rather I die?" Bush asked. "You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see? You want to see me die? You know because that could be the alternative."

Bush’s office did not respond to Fox News’ questions asking for comment and whether the congresswoman’s hiring of sheriff’s deputies — thereby personally funding the police — defeats the purpose of her calls for defunding the police.

Houston Keene is a reporter for Fox News Digital. You can find him on Twitter at @HoustonKeene.