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Ashley Hinson Faces Questions From Iowans on Her Decision to Block the Release of the Epstein Files

Ashley Hinson Faces Questions From Iowans on Her Decision to Block the Release of the Epstein Files

In This Week’s Edition of the Ashley Accountability Alert, Hinson Was Grilled by Iowans for Fighting the Release of the Epstein Files 

DES MOINES – This week, Iowans held Ashley Hinson accountable during her telephone town hall on Monday evening for fighting to block the release of the Epstein Files. They demanded to know why she “fought against releasing the Epstein files” and “block[ed] the release of the Epstein files for several months,” by refusing to join a bipartisan effort in Congress to release the files. 

Meanwhile, Hinson’s corrupt record continues to draw headlines, the latest reports revealing that she’s raked in tens of thousands of dollars from the Big Oil companies profiting from the Hinson-backed Iran war. 

But the week got even worse for Hinson…

  • While Hinson collects campaign cash and votes to continue another Middle East war, gas prices have surged for Iowans as those same Big Oil companies see record profits up to $14 billion.
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See What Iowans Were Seeing and Reading This Week: 

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. 

Heartland Signal: Rep. Hinson backed Iran war and took big oil cash as Iowa gas prices surged

  • U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) has repeatedly voted against ending military hostilities in Iran while accepting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from major oil companies. These companies are enjoying increased profits during the war, as Midwesterners face steep pain at the gas pump.
  • Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that Hinson’s campaign and political action committees have taken $64,500 from oil and gas companies since 2021. The companies include Chevron, ExxonMobil, Valero, Phillips 66 and the American Petroleum Institute (API). After the war began in March, the companies gave Hinson $21,000 for her 2026 U.S. Senate campaign.
  • Despite the economic strain on Iowa families and businesses, Hinson voted six times between March and July 2026 against measures to limit or end U.S. military involvement in Iran and Lebanon, including votes on several war powers resolutions.

American Journal News: Ashley Hinson missed almost 200 votes in Congress

  • Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson missed almost 200 votes in Congress, including one to crack down on AI-generated child pornography.
  • According to congressional records, Hinson has missed 163 committee votes and 33 floor votes since joining the House in 2021.
  • Hinson also missed several votes aimed at reducing violent crime.
  • Hinson missed multiple committee votes related to health care, including a 2023 vote to address doctor shortages in the Veterans Affairs system, a 2025 vote to increase funding for nutrition programs for seniors, and another 2025 vote to fund a program that trains physicians in rural areas.
  • Last month, it was reported that Hinson didn’t vote on 11 amendments to the 2027 Defense Appropriations bill because she was attending a fundraiser for her U.S. Senate campaign.

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa Democrats launch State Fair billboard ad criticizing Hinson’s wealth

  • The Iowa Democratic Party launched an ad campaign Thursday targeting U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s finances, aiming to reach voters at and around the Iowa State Fair.
  • The campaign is part of IDP’s “Iowa Can’t Afford Ashley” tour, which has included events and ads criticizing Hinson for becoming more wealthy since she began serving in the U.S. House. Democrats, including Hinson’s opponent in the U.S. Senate race, state Rep. Josh Turek, have said Hinson has misrepresented herself in statements and interviews saying she is a “working mom” who understands the pressure Iowa families are facing because of rising costs.
  • Hinson has said she relates to struggles with affordability, but her opponents argue she has become significantly wealthier since first taking office in 2021, partially related to her husband not divesting from stock in his former company.

Iowa Independent: Iowa Senate candidate Hinson received $26,000 from pharmaceutical companies, records show

  • Over the last two years, Iowa Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson has received $26,000 in donations from political action committees representing pharmaceutical companies, federal campaign finance records show.
  • Hinson, the Republican nominee for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat has voted against legislation designed to lower consumer drug prices. 
  • Federal Election Commission records show Hinson’s campaign has taken donations ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 from political action committees, or PACs, associated with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Amgen and Bayer. 
  • But Hinson, who has been in the House of Representatives since 2021, voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, provisions of which aimed to lower prescription drug costs. Specifically, the law limited monthly out-of-pocket payments for insulin to $35 for people with Medicare. It also authorized the federal government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. 

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