Female senator slams claims of ‘relationship’ with high-powered military officials: ‘Scandalous lie’

Republican Senator Joni Ernst is slamming reports she had inappropriate romantic relationships with two top military officials who lobbied her Senate committee.

A report from the Air Force inspector general who conducted an investigation redacted the names of women who worked on Capitol Hill who had relationships with Major General Christopher Finerty, but according to a report from ProPublica, one of the women was the Iowa senator.

The relationship raised serious ethical concerns, the report noted, because Ernst sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee which oversees the Pentagon, and she is one of the most powerful voices on the hill when it comes to the military.

Ernst’s relationship with Finerty was confirmed to ProPublica by two sources with ‘knowledge of the investigation.’

The ProPublica report also alleged Ernst previously had a romantic relationship with a legislative affairs official who worked for the Navy. It cited three sources familiar with the relationship which took place around 2019.

ProPublica noted that neither the senator nor the two officials were married at the time and Senate rules do not ban lawmakers from romantic relationships with lobbyists or advocates.

‘But ethics experts say such relationships can create a conflict of interest, and other lawmakers have been criticized for such behavior in the past,’ ProPublica’s report stated.

DailyMail.com reached out to the senator’s office for comment. They declined to comment beyond the statement provided to ProPublica, which did not address the alleged relationships.

‘The fake news media is clearly too busy gossiping to report the real news that Senator Ernst is focused on cutting waste at the Pentagon,’ it read.

‘Her vote and work in the Senate are guided by the voices of Iowans who elected her and her constitutional duty alone. Any insinuation otherwise by tabloid “journalism” is a slanderous lie – full stop,’ it continued.

The 41-page report detailing the inspector general’s investigation into Finerty was first completed in September 2023, but it was shared with Congress and the public this year in response to a records request.

The investigation was first launched in response to a complaint filed in January 2023 which accused Finerty of ‘unprofessional and inappropriate relationships with multiple women.’

While much of the report and the names of the women were redacted, it stated that testimony and documented evidence such as texts indicated that Finerty ‘engaged in sexual, inappropriate, or unprofessional relationships with five women.’

‘The text messages contain explicit sexual content and photos showing an intimate, cyber sexual relationship with an enlisted member,’ the report read.

The release of the report documenting Finerty’s behavior with the women was first reported by Politico in late January.

In response to ProPublica, Finerty’s lawyer also released a statement, but declined to say whether he had a relationship with Ernst while lobbying for the Air Force.

‘The IG report found no evidence suggesting anything remotely approaching either conflict of interest or undue influence involving General Finerty and anyone on Capitol Hill,’ the statement read.

‘Further, the IG report found no law, rule, policy or guidance prohibited any of General Finerty’s relationships. Any suggestion to the contrary would be defamatory,’ it continued.

Ernst is the first woman combat veteran in the Senate. The 54-year-old served in the Iowa Army National Guard during the Iraq War and has played a crucial role in the congressional oversight of the Pentagon and allegations of sexual misconduct in the military.

Just before the report was released, Ernst also played a crucial role in the Senate confirmation of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary after throwing her support behind the embattled nominee.