BREAKING: “Ashley Hinson Pressed Over Epstein Files During Iowa Telephone Town Hall”
The Gazette: “Ashley Hinson was Pressed Monday Night by Iowa Callers Over Her Refusal Last Year to Sign a Bipartisan Petition Aimed at Forcing a House Vote on the Release of Government Files Related to the Late Convicted Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein”
The Gazette: “Three Callers Raised the Issue During Hinson’s Aug. 10 Telephone Town Hall, Challenging the Iowa Republican’s Assertion That She Supported Releasing the Files”
DES MOINES – Iowans grilled Ashley Hinson during her telephone town hall yesterday evening for blocking the release of the Epstein Files, according to a breaking report from The Gazette.
Multiple Iowa callers asked why she “fought against releasing the Epstein files,” “block[ed] the release of the Epstein files for several months,” and refused to join a bipartisan effort in Congress to release the files.
Key context: For months, Ashley Hinson publicly opposed a bipartisan effort to release the Epstein Files, calling the effort last year the “wrong way” and “not how we should be doing business” even as Iowans were demanding transparency.
“Iowans want to know why Ashley Hinson fought harder to block the release of the Epstein files than to lower their costs,” said Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Drew Myers. “They’re not going to forget in November that Hinson chose to side with the Epstein class over Iowans.”
Missed the report? See below for more key highlights:
The Gazette: Ashley Hinson pressed over Epstein files during Iowa telephone town hall
- U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson was pressed Monday night by Iowa callers over her refusal last year to sign a bipartisan petition aimed at forcing a House vote on the release of government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
- Three callers raised the issue during Hinson’s Aug. 10 telephone town hall, challenging the Iowa Republican’s assertion that she supported releasing the files.
- “I read somewhere online that you fought against releasing the Epstein files. Is that right? Why would you do that?” one Cedar Rapids caller asked.
- Hinson had refused to sign a bipartisan House discharge petition intended to force a floor vote on the release of the Epstein files.
- During Monday’s town hall, a second caller returned to the subject.
- “I wanted to follow up on Margaret’s question. I saw that you blocked the release of the Epstein files for several months. Why did you do that?” the caller asked.
- Minutes later, a third caller challenged Hinson specifically over the discharge petition.
- Callers also questioned Hinson about rising health insurance premiums, housing affordability, childcare costs and Iowa’s cancer rates.
- A Cedar Rapids woman told Hinson her health insurance costs had roughly doubled after the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, wiping out any benefit she received from lower taxes.
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