Deplorable:
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst joined conservative colleagues in vowing to oppose Democratic legislation and not confirm judicial and political appointees nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden to protest former President Donald Trump's recent felony convictions in a New York hush-money trial.
Ernst signed a letter along with 10 other Republican senators, promising to oppose any increases to non-security related funding, Biden judicial and political nominations and "expedited consideration and passage" of Democratic legislation.
The letter, written by GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, says: “The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways.
“As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart," the senators wrote.
Ernst signed the letter along with fellow Republican Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott of Florida, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.
Radio Iowa reports fellow GOP Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley was asked Tuesday if he would also sign the letter.
Grassley, according to Radio Iowa, said he needed to carefully review the letter before deciding whether to sign on.
“Sen. Grassley is reviewing the letter and will confer with colleagues about its potential impacts on the legislative and appropriations process,” Grassley’s office responded to The Gazette in an email Tuesday evening.
Ernst, Grassley and other members of Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation have rallied behind Trump after the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee was found guilty by a New York jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments made to an adult film star who alleged she had an affair with Trump.
The former president has denied the sexual encounter.
Prosecutors said the $130,000 payment was made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to buy porn actor Stormy Daniels’ silence during the final weeks of the 2016 U.S. presidential race in what they allege was an effort to interfere in the election. Trump’s lawyers contend the reimbursements were legitimate payments for legal services.
Ernst, who has said she plans to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2026, has jumped to Trump's defense.
“It’s time we restore faith in our justice system and stop the political persecution of Donald J. Trump,” Ernst said Saturday said to applause during her annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser in Des Moines.
Grassley last month called the trial of Trump a "political lynching" and said it would hurt Democrats politically.
The outcry comes as Trump and other Republicans — including Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion — have claimed, without evidence, that Biden and his administration were pulling the strings behind the New York trial.
Hinson, speaking to reporters Friday, said the trial in New York was designed to keep Trump off the campaign trail.
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“The only thing I believe President Trump was guilty of here is being named Donald Trump,” Hinson said during her weekly telephone news conference with Iowa reporters. “These charges would not have been prosecuted against anyone else and Iowans see right through that.”
Biden addressed Trump’s attacks on the judicial system during a fundraiser Monday night in Connecticut, calling them “dangerous for American democracy,” and noted that the former president was convicted in a state case rather than a federal one. Attorney General Merrick Garland criticized the idea that the federal government was involved as a conspiracy theory during an appearance Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee, calling it an attack on the judicial process.
Republicans, though, note Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, campaigned for office in 2021 in part on his qualifications to take over the office’s investigation into Trump. The judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, donated $15 to Biden in 2020 and has a daughter who works in Democratic politics, though he has said neither affected his ability to be impartial. And prosecutor Matthew Colangelo joined Bragg’s office after serving in the Biden administration’s Department of Justice.
www.thegazette.com
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst joined conservative colleagues in vowing to oppose Democratic legislation and not confirm judicial and political appointees nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden to protest former President Donald Trump's recent felony convictions in a New York hush-money trial.
Ernst signed a letter along with 10 other Republican senators, promising to oppose any increases to non-security related funding, Biden judicial and political nominations and "expedited consideration and passage" of Democratic legislation.
The letter, written by GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, says: “The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways.
“As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart," the senators wrote.
Ernst signed the letter along with fellow Republican Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott of Florida, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.
Radio Iowa reports fellow GOP Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley was asked Tuesday if he would also sign the letter.
Grassley, according to Radio Iowa, said he needed to carefully review the letter before deciding whether to sign on.
“Sen. Grassley is reviewing the letter and will confer with colleagues about its potential impacts on the legislative and appropriations process,” Grassley’s office responded to The Gazette in an email Tuesday evening.
Ernst, Grassley and other members of Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation have rallied behind Trump after the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee was found guilty by a New York jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments made to an adult film star who alleged she had an affair with Trump.
The former president has denied the sexual encounter.
Prosecutors said the $130,000 payment was made by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to buy porn actor Stormy Daniels’ silence during the final weeks of the 2016 U.S. presidential race in what they allege was an effort to interfere in the election. Trump’s lawyers contend the reimbursements were legitimate payments for legal services.
Ernst, who has said she plans to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2026, has jumped to Trump's defense.
“It’s time we restore faith in our justice system and stop the political persecution of Donald J. Trump,” Ernst said Saturday said to applause during her annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser in Des Moines.
Grassley last month called the trial of Trump a "political lynching" and said it would hurt Democrats politically.
The outcry comes as Trump and other Republicans — including Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion — have claimed, without evidence, that Biden and his administration were pulling the strings behind the New York trial.
Hinson, speaking to reporters Friday, said the trial in New York was designed to keep Trump off the campaign trail.
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“The only thing I believe President Trump was guilty of here is being named Donald Trump,” Hinson said during her weekly telephone news conference with Iowa reporters. “These charges would not have been prosecuted against anyone else and Iowans see right through that.”
Biden addressed Trump’s attacks on the judicial system during a fundraiser Monday night in Connecticut, calling them “dangerous for American democracy,” and noted that the former president was convicted in a state case rather than a federal one. Attorney General Merrick Garland criticized the idea that the federal government was involved as a conspiracy theory during an appearance Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee, calling it an attack on the judicial process.
Republicans, though, note Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, campaigned for office in 2021 in part on his qualifications to take over the office’s investigation into Trump. The judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, donated $15 to Biden in 2020 and has a daughter who works in Democratic politics, though he has said neither affected his ability to be impartial. And prosecutor Matthew Colangelo joined Bragg’s office after serving in the Biden administration’s Department of Justice.
Iowa Sen. Ernst vows to oppose Biden nominees, Democratic bills after Trump verdict
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst joined conservative colleagues in vowing to oppose Democratic legislation and confirm judicial and political appointees nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden to protest former President Donald Trump's recent felony convictions in a New York hush-money...
www.thegazette.com
