U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst stopped in Davenport yesterday as part of her Ride Across Iowa event. As she addressed supporters outside of the Scott County Republican Headquarters, protestors drove around the parking lot in a truck, waving signs.
"See, that's what $100 million will buy you, right there," Ernst says. "Anyway, make sure you tell them thank you because this is the United States of America where we are free to do that. Thank you very much, veterans. Thank you very much."
Progress Iowa organized the protest. Camellia Pohl says she and her husband are both veterans, but they haven't received support from Ernst.
"We have soldiers committing suicide, and what are they addressing in the senate right now? They're trying to cram a Supreme Court justice down our throat in 20 days. You've got people that are unemployed, you've got people that are getting sick, and they're dying."
Brendan Conley with the Ernst for Iowa campaign says that the proceeds from Ernst's Ride Across Iowa Event go to providing combat veterans with emotional support animals and supporting Iowans hurt by the August derecho.
"You know, it's despicable but not surprising that Theresa Greenfield and her backers would go so far as to attack the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate for a charity event whose proceeds go directly to non-profit organizations."
Ernst also told reporters that she would not be attending President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Des Moines on Wednesday, since she is serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
