DES MOINES – A report from The Daily Beast launched allegations that Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s “campaign has shielded a key bit of financial information from voters and the public: who she’s paying to run her re-election effort, and how much” and her re-election opponents are taking notice.
“No surprise,” said Admiral Mike Franken, a Democrat challenging Ernst. “Joni Ernst has a well-established track record of doing what’s necessary to cover the truth, act unscrupulously, and smile nicely. It’s almost Trump-like.”
Lachlan Markey’s report found that Ernst has “for months avoided reporting the names of the campaign staffers on her payroll, how many of those staffers there are, and the extent of payments they’ve received.”
FranKen Communications director Aaron Slutkin said, “Joni Ernst cannot claim to represent Iowa values if she can’t report basic aspects of her campaign. Unfortunately, these are the consequences when politicians flirt with shady national groups. All Democratic candidates should take notice, as well, that these accounting tricks do not serve transparency.”
Franken continued: “We have to take a broader look at this kind of behavior. Iowans should take a hard look at politicians who are so willing to court outside influence, regardless of party.”
Not to be outdone, Theresa Greenfield, another Democrat who wants Ernst to go back to wearing bread sacks on her pedicured Washington feet, said Ernst “first was caught illegally coordinating with a dark money group set up by her top aides. She’s breaking the law again, hiding who’s on her payroll.”
