Ethics complaint over Cedar Rapids lawmaker’s social media posts dismissed

DES MOINES — A panel of state lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to dismiss an ethics complaint against a Cedar Rapids senator over her social media posts referring to Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has gained national attention for its efforts to influence school curriculum and classroom learning, as “terrorists.”

The Senate Ethics Committee voted 6-0 to dismiss a complaint against Democrat Molly Donahue filed by Rebecca Dunk of Marion, who belongs to local parent groups.

Dunk, in her complaint, includes photos of several posts by Donahue on her public Facebook page linked to her Senate campaign. The posts accuse Moms for Liberty of being a “hate group” funded by dark money groups comprised of “white supremacists to extreme fundamental church leaders” that push a far-right agenda and participated in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Donahue’s posts also refers to Moms for Liberty and its supporters as “bigots,” “bullies,” “homophobes,” “racists” and “xenophobes.”

The nonprofit says its mission is to “organize, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights,” and paints itself as a grassroots organization.

The conservative group and its local chapters have been at the forefront of efforts in Iowa and across the country against COVID-19 restrictions in schools, to ban books about LGBTQ issues and modify classroom curriculum to exclude the teaching of “critical race theory” and sex education.

Dunk, in her complaint, argued Donahue, a teacher, violated the Senate’s ethics rules by posting “disparaging, untruthful and potentially damaging hateful rhetoric and using her official capacity as a senator to do so.”

“Her actions demonstrate she is attempting to intimidate, harass and bully in order to inflict harm on personal reputations, including mine, because our opinions on education and parenting are different from hers,” Dunk’s complaint reads.

The committee, divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats, determined Donahue was exercising her free speech rights and did not violate the code of ethics.

Committee member Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said Donahue’s posts did not amount to a personal attack. “If there’s a lesson to learn in all of this, it is that we all need to choose our words very carefully to ensure respect, even toward those with whom we disagree,” Jochum said.

Sen. Mark Costello, a Republican from Imogene, said called Donahue’s posts “unsettling.”

“I think she needs to watch what she posts, and it would probably be good advice for her just to get off of social media,” Costello said.

Donahue said she appreciates the committee’s “due diligence in reviewing and dismissing this baseless complaint.”

Complaint against GOP senator tabled

The ethics committee chose not to take action on a complaint against a GOP senator alleging a conflict of interest relating to a carbon dioxide capture pipeline bill — but did not fully dismiss it either.

The complaint against Sen. Mike Bousselot of Ankeny, filed by progressive activist group Citizens for Community Improvement, stemmed from his decision not to schedule a subcommittee meeting on a bill that would have limited the eminent domain authority of CO2 pipelines.

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The group alleged Bousselot has a conflict of interest because of his past work for Summit Agricultural Group — the parent company of Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking a permit to build a CO2 pipeline — and his stint as former Gov. Terry Branstad’s chief of staff. Branstad is an adviser for the pipeline company.

The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to notify Bousselot that no further action will be taken unless further substantiating information is presented.

“Sen. Bousselot has not worked for them for six years. So he has no financial stake investment with them,” said committee chair Sen. Tom Shipley, a Republican from Nodaway. “So if somebody has evidence to the contrary, then that’s what we’d look at.”

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com

Caleb McCullough of The Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau contributed.