After former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment, Iowa Republicans didn’t seem to have much to say.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Trump was charged with conspiring to defraud the United States for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, marking the third time he has been indicted this year.
Except for US Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), who tweeted “Another Biden scandal, another Trump indictment – just like clockwork. We must stop this unAmerican politicization of the judicial system,” it was crickets from Iowa’s most prominent Republicans. Hinson also used that same message to send out a fundraising text message.
When Trump was indicted on June 9 for allegedly illegally taking classified documents, Gov. Kim Reynolds immediately issued a press release and made social media posts coming to his defense.
“The federal indictment of former President Trump represents a grave warning sign for the state of equal justice and public trust in government institutions in this country,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Reynolds had a similar response to the March 30 state indictment.
“While New York faces an open season for crime, the Manhattan DA is focused on arresting a former president,” her statement said. “This is what an assault on democracy looks like – using government power to go after your political opponents – and it’s coming directly from those who proclaim to ‘defend’ it.”
While it hasn’t quite been 24 hours since the latest indictment dropped, that hasn’t stopped Reynolds or other Republicans from rushing to Trump’s defense in the past. Additionally, Reynolds has updated her social media with posts about recent stops in Sioux City and Monona County since the Trump news broke, but the big elephant in the room is how Reynolds and Trump’s relationship has frayed since June.
On July 10, Trump went after Reynolds on his Truth Social platform because of her decision to stay neutral in the Republican presidential primary and seemingly cozy relationship with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his top challenger in the race.
The attack didn’t go over well with a lot of Iowa Republicans. Former Iowa GOP Co-Chair Dr. Cody Hoefert condemned it as did other prominent elected officials and activists. State Sen. Jeff Reichman (R-Montrose) even switched his endorsement from Trump to DeSantis afterward.
Trump has laid off the attacks on Reynolds (for now), but the damage seems to be done.
Here’s what prominent Iowa Republicans, who have not commented on the Aug. 1 indictment, said about Trump’s March and/or June indictments:
by Ty Rushing
08/02/23
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2 Comments on "Iowa Republicans Strangely Quiet After New Trump Indictment"
I am going to be generous and assume Rep. Hinson did not take the time to read the 45 page document which is easily downloaded, which I have done. If she still wishes to stand by her ignorant tweet dismissing the facts made by Trump Attorney General and his own Vice President Mike Pence that shows us exactly who you are.
Trump is not Hawaii’s favorite person to begin with. The fact that he is strongarming others makes him look like a “dictator in running” which does not bode well for our supposed Democracy. I don’t like DiSantes either since both are like “bulls in China Shops.” I just want to be able to get through the
next 4 year presidency and still be alive at the end of it since I will be going on 80! So much is going to
change for us as Americans. Most likely a war with China or Russia.