Ernst Accused Of Relationships With Pentagon Officials

March 4, 2025 Republicans, Scandal

ProPublica reports:

Earlier this year, the Air Force revealed that the general who oversaw its lobbying before Congress had inappropriate romantic relationships with five women, including three who worked on Capitol Hill.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Finerty’s colleagues told investigators the relationships were “highly inappropriate” as they could give the Air Force undue influence in Congress. “I honestly felt sick to my stomach,” one said, according to a report about the investigation, “because it just felt so sleazy.”  The Air Force inspector general’s report redacted the names of the women who worked on the Hill.

But one of the women whose relationship with Finerty was scrutinized by the inspector general was Sen. Joni Ernst. The Iowa Republican and combat veteran is one of the most influential voices on the Hill about the military, and she sits on the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Pentagon and plays a crucial role in setting its annual budget.

The Daily Beast reports:

Three sources alleged to ProPublica that Finerty was not Ernst’s only fling with a military official. The report claimed she also had a “romantic relationship” with a Navy legislative affairs official in 2019—the same year she got a divorce. A spokesperson for Ernst did not deny the two relationships in a statement to ProPublica.

“The fake news media is clearly too busy gossiping to report the real news that Senator Ernst is focused on cutting waste at the Pentagon,” it said.

“Her votes and work in the Senate are guided by the voices of Iowans who elected her and her constitutional duty alone.” Finerty’s lawyer was adamant his client had not leveraged his relationships to bring about “undue influence” to the Air Force.

There’s much more at the first link.



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