Commenting on stories such as this requires a caveat right from the start noting that nothing below has been proven – at least not as reported, and thus I’m only going so far as to cover allegations – which are problematic. Even mere allegations become important in the same way that the Pentagon actually takes all possible extra-marital relationships seriously. People who look to be involved in an entanglement are more easily bribed – or, less cynically, manipulable. If the matter concerns people “high enough” on the ladder then it starts to necessarily involve national security issues. The military also concerns itself with each officer’s general stability – including home life, and the worry that affairs may involve harm to fellow servicemen (Or women). So, while highly scandalous affairs (If proven) always attract attention, there are instances where there really could be consequences and legitimate inquiry. That seems to be the case with Senator Joni Ernst and at least two officials from the Defense Department.
As reported by watchdog ProPublica, the matter initially focused on an Air Force general and women, including Ernst:
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.
The very fact that the investigation originated within the DoD’s Inspector General’s office lends weight to the accusation. The matter didn’t come up out of pique or spite by someone wanting headlines to crush someone else. The report then gets more specific:
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.
Some mixed language in that one. The “relationship was scrutinized” means that they took a hard look at whether there was anything involving Ernst. But then again – it was enough to be scrutinized and – apparently, it wasn’t dismissed as unfounded. Additionally, Finerty’s lawyer carefully worded a response in which he didn’t deny the relationship but strongly pointed out that the I.G. report didn’t find that he broke a law, rule, policy or guidance prohibited – though the I.G. report did establish inappropriate relationships in violation of the code of military justice. Were that her only problem. As reported by The Daily Beast:
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.
Thus it is that there are allegations that someone with a lot of power over the military and its budget was perhaps having affairs with the very officers charged with the duty to advocate for that spending and those policies or laws. That’s not ideal.
Setting aside all official problems for the Defense Department and its personnel, when viewed from a personal standpoint it would seem that Ernst herself (As opposed to Finerty) hasn’t violated any law in the alleged relationship(s) – it just looks awful. Ernst’s office didn’t expressly deny the relationships occurred, only furious about the coverage and that her relationships had any undue influence:
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.”
Well, scandal is scandal and will always attract attention, to be sure – warranted or not. But it isn’t idle gossip when involving these types of conflicts of interest. The Inspector General doesn’t involve itself with mere gossip. And though Ernst isn’t alleged to have violated any law, there is a clear conflict if such relationships existed.
Without the publication of the I.G. report, it is tough to be sure as to what is “established” versus what is strongly suspected. But it certainly appears that the Pentagon’s worries are established to a degree that all of this makes them uncomfortable – see the quotes. No one needed this, least of all Ernst or Finerty and the Navy “legislative affairs” officer – an unfortunate official title in this case.
Expect more news on this. Affairs in Washington DC are as plentiful as rice. But most don’t make official reports and most don’t involve such clear conflicts, especially with multiple term Senators and… well – lobbyists, even if official military… ah, more so with official military.
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Seems only logical to me that her support of Hegseth now has to be scrutinized………….it didn’t make sense when she made the 180 but perhaps now the reason for it is right in front of us. She may have been “approached” about her inappropriate behavior and ahem, threatened.
Hmm. Maybe this is why Ernst voted to approve Hegseth’s nomination?
Her vote to keep her “inappropriate” relationships hush-hush?
So, now Hegseth’s in and, like any good Drumpfer disciple, he proved to be the scorpion to Ernst’s frog and went ahead and “let” the report get released. Who wants to bet that we’ll start seeing a push to remove women from committees that they “shouldn’t” be on, like defense and the military?
Propublica is not a tabloid operation and the results of investigations are not “gossip”. I really hate how the republicons “reframe” things.