Sen. Ernst's office calls the report on alleged military relationships on a “defamed lie”

Washington, DC – A recent investigation by Prublica has accused Senator Joni Ernst's connections to high -ranking military officers, including major Christopher Finerty, who supervised the Luftwaffe's lobby work on Capitol Hill.

According to the Air Force General Inspector, Finerty had inappropriate romantic relationships with five women, three of whom were involved in the Capitol Hill with military legislative matters.

Among these women, Ernst's relationship with Finerty was subjected to special examination due to their influential role in defense policy.

Ernst has long been an important voice in military matters, which was on the committee for the Senate armed forces and is committed to the Pentagon budget.

A spokesman for the office of Sen. Ernst replied to the report on Wednesday evening and called on any report on the matter “gossip” of the “fake news media” and that every assumption is a “defamed lie – full station”.

While Senator Ernst's office rejects the allegations, Prublica confirmed that sources with knowledge of the investigation by the General Inspector confirmed that Ernst was one of the women whose relationship with finerty was examined.

The report claims that the relationship around 2019 took place when Ernst actively urged more financing for the Air Force and the support of projects that matched the military priorities.

While the rules of the Senate do not expressly prohibit the legislators of having relationships with military officers or lobbyists, ethics experts have triggered alarms about potential conflicts of interest.

According to six sources that have spoken to Prublica about the condition of anonymity, the relationship between Ernst and Finerty was a well -known topic of discussion both within the Air Force and in the legislative circles.

Some reported that the relationship of the Air Force may have granted an unfair advantage because Finerty was involved in the design of military policy on the Capitol Hill during the time that seriously benefited for projects for the Air Force projects.

A spokesman for the senator rejected the claims, described the media reporting as “slandered” and emphasized that their decisions are only driven by the interests of their voters in Iowa.

The investigation by Prublica also showed that Ernst's previous relationships with military legislative connections were not limited to Finerty.

In 2019, Ernst reported had a romantic relationship with a legislative officer in the navy.

Three sources showed that this relationship with tensions in the office of the legislative matters of the Navy contributed, which might have led to the early new assignment of the official involved.

The general report of the Air Force, published in January 2025, showed that Finerty had violated the military about his relationships with women, including seriousness.

The report described how the romantic entanglements of Finerty mixed with his professional tasks, which resulted in considering the integrity of the Luftwaffe's lobbying.

In one case, Finerty wrote one of the women a list of air force priorities, including combat aircraft and radar systems as well as suggestive messages.

While Finerty defended the relationships as needed, he was ultimately downgraded due to violation of the military ethics standards.

During this time, Ernst publicized the financing of the Air Force, including the efforts to secure additional aircraft and critical military technology.

For example, in June 2021, she carried out public regulations for increased financing of the Air Force and argues that President Biden's budget proposal would reduce the number of aircraft.

In 2022, she criticized the proposed budget for reducing the size of the Air Force and later introduced laws to improve the access of the Pentagon to critical minerals in military technology.

Ernst also led a legislation to improve military communication and coordination between the industries in initiative, which is directly connected to Finerty's legislative priorities.

A spokesman for Senator Ernst said in a statement on Iowa's news. Wednesday evening on Wednesday evening is the “real news”, as Ernst Sarah Root's memory honored by bringing her father Scott to President Trump's joint speech.

Sarah Root, a woman from a city council, was killed in 2016 by a drunk driver who was an immigrant without papers. Root's death was the impetus behind Sarah's law, in which immigrants are obliged to commit the crimes, which led to death or serious bodily harm to be arrested by immigration and customs authority (ICE).

“The fake news media are clearly too busy to report the real news that Senator Ernst is geared to cut waste in the Pentagon. Their voices and work in the Senate are directed by the votes of Iowans who have chosen and their constitutional obligation alone. Any subordination otherwise through tabloid “Journalism” is a defamed lie – full of stop. “