GOP Attack Ad Backfires: Star Was Arrested for Endangering Kids
A super PAC ad attacking Iowa Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott over children's safety features a woman with a child endangerment conviction. The Washington Post first reported the record Saturday.
- 2017: Flockhart drove drunk with her children, ages 8 and 11, in the car.
- .254 blood alcohol on a roadside test, over three times the legal limit.
- She pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and received a fine and probation.
- $1 million or more backs the ad, according to tracker AdImpact.
Why it matters: Trone Garriott, a state senator, is challenging Republican Rep. Zach Nunn. The ad targets her votes on transgender issues, including a school bathroom bill.
- Flockhart is a Dallas Center city council member; the ad gives only her first name.
- Last year, Flockhart discussed addiction, rehab and her faith on podcasts.
How 3 sources split on this story
Where they split: Outlets agree on the facts; they differ on whether to present the episode as a damaging backfire for Republicans or a messenger controversy.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left sees a Republican attack ad undercut by its own messenger's record of endangering her children.
What’s next: A Trone Garriott spokesman called the ad "disappointing, but not surprising" and accused Nunn's allies of "desperate lies."
- CLF spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair criticized the Post's reporting without addressing Flockhart's inclusion.
- Did the Congressional Leadership Fund know about Flockhart's record before the ad aired?
- Will the super PAC keep running the ad?
