Joni Ernst Aide Quit Campaign After Drunk Driving Arrest

Republican senatorial candidate State Sen. Joni Ernst, speaks during the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fall fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

A spokeswoman for Sen.-elect Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) campaign resigned just days before the election over a drunk driving arrest, the Des Moines Register reported Thursday.

West Des Moines police arrested Ernst aide Gretchen Hamel after they found her passed out at the wheel at about 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 29. Hamel had crossed lanes and driven her car over a curb, according to a police report obtained by the newspaper.

Ernst’s campaign manager told the Register that Hamel resigned the next morning.

“This is a personnel matter which we will not discuss in the press. We wish Gretchen nothing but the best and appreciate her efforts,” Jon Kohan said in a statement.

Hamel also committed another bizarre driving offense the night of Oct. 13, according to the newspaper.

A separate police report obtained by the Register stated that Hamel told police a man named “Robert” had been driving her car and fled the scene after striking a sign post at an intersection in Urbandale, Iowa.

She later admitted to police that she lied and had been driving the vehicle herself, according to the report.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. “…just days before the election…”

    Hidden dirty laundry from the candidate whose campaign strategy was to hide the truth.

  2. It sounds like this person has a problem, but not working for Joni Ernst any more is a sound first step on the road to recovery.

  3. Sure would have been nice if Luke Russet had done some real investigative reporting instead of kissing Republican ass.

  4. While I agree that Luke Russert completely sucks, I’m not sure what some aide getting arrested for drunk driving has to do with anything. Is there really the idea out there that this “news” would’ve made any kind of difference? Quite confusing to me.

  5. Avatar for darcy darcy says:

    Poor Gretchen. Maybe she could rehab at the Palins. I hope there’s a reporter working this.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

21 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for John2247 Avatar for jw1 Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for jep07 Avatar for mames5 Avatar for rogu3ish Avatar for counter_coulter Avatar for fourlegsgood Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for okay Avatar for debbieqd Avatar for darcy Avatar for zippitydont Avatar for sceptick Avatar for pine Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for sashasmom

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: