Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says family issues, led to her declining an opportunity to become Vice President to Donald Trump in 2016. Ernst was among several individuals interviewed for Vice President.
Gail Ernst filed for divorce last year, the divorce became final in early January.
Joni Ernst claims her ex-husband did not support her political career, had a long-time girlfriend, and sought alimony when they initially filed for divorce. She also alleges emotional and physical abuse by her now ex-husband.
An affidavit states Ernst nearly filed for divorce when she was the Montgomery County Auditor, after she says an argument with her then-husband became physical. Ernst was first elected auditor in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018, after serving in the Iowa Senate.
Ernst claims she showed her injuries to a Victim’s Advocate at the Montgomery County courthouse where she worked but “was embarrassed and humiliated, and didn’t want anyone to know about the assault.”