Draft:List of Iowa political scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the State of Iowa. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included. Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal. Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence. Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included. Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings. The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later. Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation. Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Iowa

• Bill Dix (R) State Senator and Senate Majority Leader from Shell Rock in the 25th District, as well as several others, were accused by Kirsten Anderson (R) Communications Director for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus of creating a toxic work environment and then retaliating when she complained. The married with kids Dix was also caught on camera kissing a female lobbyist in a bar. When the tape was released on line he resigned a few hours later. (2018)

1. Ed Failor (R) Senior Aide to Senator Bill Dix (R), was accused by Kirsten Anderson, Communications Director for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus, of sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining. He resigned the day after Senator Dix resigned. (2014)
2. Eric Johansen (R) Director of the Iowa Republican Senate Staff, was accused by Kirsten Anderson, Communications Director for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus of sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining. Johansen resigned. (2014)
3. Jim Friedrich (R) Analyst for the Iowa Senate, was accused by Kirsten Anderson (R) Communications Director for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus of multiple counts of sexual harassment for asking about female staffers areolas, their sex lives and other teasing. He resigned. (2017)
4. Dave Jamison (R) Director of the Iowa Finance Authority, was accused of sex harassment. The charges were substantiated and the State of Iowa paid $4,000,000 in damages. He was then fired by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. (2018)

• Kent Sorenson (R) State Senator from Indianola in District 37, accepted $73,000 in bribes to change his support from presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R-MN), to presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX). Sorenson pled guilty to one count of falsely reporting expenditures and one count of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison. (2012)

• James Edward Bromwell (R) State Representative from Cedar Rapids in the 2nd District, was accused of not filing federal income tax returns from 1965 to 1972. He was found guilty of racketeering concerning the awarding of government contracts. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. (1965)

See also:

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
• List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes

References

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Categories:

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• Iowa-related lists