A registered Iowa lobbyist and former aide to Governor Kim Reynolds reportedly offered $100 payments to individuals to attend a Des Moines rally headlined by Vice President JD Vance.
Hours before Vice President JD Vance’s rally on May 5, a prominent ethanol lobbyist offered cash to bolster attendance, according to Iowa Starting Line. Jake Swanson, founder of High Yield Strategies and former adviser to Governor Kim Reynolds, sent a text message offering $100 to attendees and $25 per referral. “No limit on referrals, so if someone recruits a group of 20 to show up, that’s $500,” the message stated.
Swanson described the effort as personal, stating, “I was happy to bring some Iowa State kids to the rally… This is what I like to do in my own personal spare time.” While Swanson’s client, Great Plains Institute, denied involvement, the incident raises potential legal questions regarding campaign finance. At the rally, Vance championed E15 fuel alongside Representative Zach Nunn, whose campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
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