What They’re Saying: “Must-Read” AP Report Reveals Senator Joni Ernst’s Illegal Coordination with Dark Money Group

“Condemnation Came Swiftly” After Ernst Declined to Refute “Really Questionable” Illegal Coordination

A must-read new report from the Associated Press today revealed Senator Joni Ernst’s illegal coordination with a shady dark money group that “potentially violates the law” in its efforts to prop up the increasingly vulnerable incumbent. “Condemnation came swiftly” following the report, whose allegations neither Senator Ernst nor her dark money group were able to refute.

Here’s what they’re saying about Senator Ernst’s illegal coordination to prop up her struggling campaign:

Associated Press’ Brian Slodysko:

KGAN – Cedar Rapids: “New documents are showing dark money ties to Iowa Senator Joni Ernst”

Iowa Starting Line: Swift Condemnation After Report On Joni Ernst’s ‘Dark Money’ Ties

• Condemnation came swiftly Friday morning as news broke of Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s connection to the “dark money” group Iowa Values, and how it has helped raise money to bolster her 2020 reelection effort.

• “Using the same consultants to simultaneously run the campaign and a dark money group to boost her reelection is an egregious violation of the law,” said Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United, in a statement.

• [Ernst 2014 campaign manager and Iowa Values Executive Director Derek] Flowers did not offer any evidence to contradict the AP report in his statement to the news outlet.

• In its article, the AP cited a legal expert who said the connections between Iowa Values and the Ernst campaign “seems like pretty strong evidence” the two had coordinated to some degree.

• Progress Iowa, a progressive advocacy organization, called on Ernst to release her campaign’s internal communications in light of the “dark money” connection allegation.

• The latest fundraising quarter spelled trouble for Ernst and an October Morning Consult Poll showed her net approval rating had dropped 9 percentage points. She also is still dealing with the fallout from a September town hall where she said politicians should “sit down behind closed doors” to discuss changes to Social Security.

Campaign Legal Center’s Brendan Fischer: 

KCRG – Cedar Rapids: 

Bleeding Heartland: AP pulls back curtain on coordination between Ernst aides, dark money

• U.S. Senator Joni Ernst introduced a potential major donor to one of her campaign’s fundraisers, who later asked that person for a “an investment of $50,000” in a dark money group backing Ernst’s re-election, Brian Slodysko reported for the Associated Press on December 6.

• Slodysko’s scoop uncovered what may be illegal coordination between the Ernst campaign and the Iowa Values group, which can accept unlimited contributions without disclosing donors.

• It wasn’t the first time Ernst’s campaign ventured into a gray area.

• The AP story is a must-read in its entirety.

• Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center saw “’pretty strong evidence’ that the $50,000 request was for an ‘illegal donation,’” as well as a possible violation of the Iowa Values tax-exempt status.

• Former FEC general counsel Larry Noble, who later worked at the Campaign Legal Center, described the practice as “really questionable.”

KFXA – Cedar Rapids: 

OpenSecrets: 

POLITICO: Playbook PM:

Daily Kos: Joni Ernst’s shady reelection efforts scrutinized

• Sen. Joni Ernst, Republican from Iowa, has been using an outside dark-money group for fundraising and has potentially been illegally coordinating with it, the AP reports.

• Her personal campaign fundraiser, Claire Holloway Avella, also works for Iowa Values. Finally, another former aide who was recently hired by the group owns a condo that is used as Iowa Values’ address, and was used as the group’s address while he was still working on Ernst’s Senate staff.

• Dark-money groups like Iowa Values are supposed to operate separately from candidates. They are also supposed to function as nonprofit educational or issue groups that have activities beyond promoting individual candidates… In Ernst’s case, it appears to go well beyond fudging. The AP found a request from Holloway Avella for $50,000 to an individual Ernst had just met with and referred. 

KMTV – Omaha / Western Iowa:

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