Joni Ernst Faces Backlash After Embracing “Baseless Conspiracy Theory” & “Insulting” Health Care Workers

Senator Joni Ernst faced swift backlash after she irresponsibly embraced debunked conspiracy theories this week, saying she was “so skeptical” of the COVID-19 death count and suggesting that doctors, nurses, and health care professionals were falsifying coronavirus cases to collect a higher reimbursement. Ernst’s reckless, disqualifying comments came as Iowa continued to record among the highest number of new coronavirus cases of anywhere in the country.

Ernst was immediately called out for embracing a “baseless conspiracy theory” and making an “extremely inflammatory accusation” by “implying that the Iowa doctors and nurses that are risking their lives on the front lines of the pandemic are intentionally lying about patients’ conditions.” 

It’s not the first time Senator Ernst has mishandled the public health crisis: she has previously downplayed the virus, spread misinformation, opposed the mask mandate despite White House task force and expert warnings, and was recently caught attending crowded events without wearing a mask.

Check out what Iowans are reading and watching about Ernst’s dangerously irresponsible comments:

• Iowa Starting Line: Ernst Suggests Iowa Doctors Falsifying COVID Cases For Money
• Radio Iowa: Ernst expressing doubts about Covid death tally
• Des Moines Register: Sen. Joni Ernst says she’s ‘so skeptical’ of COVID-19 case counts, suggesting the numbers are being inflated
• The Courier: UPDATE WITH AUDIO: Ernst talks COVID numbers, RFS waivers and more in Waterloo
• Little Village: Joni Ernst suggests doctors are faking COVID-19 deaths to make money
• Perry News: Letter to the editor: Ernst burping Trump’s QAnon Kool-Aid
• New York Times: As virus cases spike in Iowa, Joni Ernst spreads a debunked theory of inflated death figures.
• Washington Post: ‘So skeptical’: Sen. Joni Ernst echoes conspiracy theory questioning coronavirus death count
• AP: ‘Skeptical:’ Ernst suggests COVID numbers are inflated
• CNN: This Republican senator just embraced a wild coronavirus conspiracy theory
• The Hill: Ernst says she’s ‘skeptical’ about coronavirus death count
• Daily Beast: GOP Sen. Joni Ernst Pushes Conspiracy Theory About COVID Death Count
• Yahoo News: Conspiracy backed by Sen. Ernst is wrong, doctors are not inflating America’s COVID-19 death toll for cash
• New York Magazine: Joni Ernst Implies That Doctors Are Inflating Coronavirus Deaths for Cash
• TPM: Iowa Senator Pushes QAnon Theory About COVID Death Toll
• NowThis: GOP Senator Echoes Conspiracy Theory About COVID-19 Death Count

KWQC: Sen. Joni Ernst refuses to apologize to health care workers after spreading conspiracy theories about COVID-19 deaths.

KCRG: Senator Joni Ernst echoing conspiracy theory about COVID-19 death toll. 

WHO13: Broadlawns Medical Center Chief Medical Officer debunks Sen. Ernst conspiracy theory about COVID-19 deaths.

CNN: Story County Board of Health Chair: “It’s insulting to the men and women who work everyday with sick patients with COVID-19 and put their life on the line. That type of statement just enrages me.” 

Briana Keilar on CNN: “It’s not like Senator Ernst doesn’t know the reality of what COVID can do. Her state has the highest number of cases per capita right now. Her state is facing an impending crisis.” 

CNN: Senator Joni Ernst is “propagating something of a conspiracy theory” which “contradicts what the CDC and the White House’s own coronavirus task force says and what the data shows.“