RPI Silent as Special Interest Group Spends Hundreds of Thousands Without Revealing Donors

DES MOINES – No stranger to hypocrisy, the Republican Party of Iowa has remained silent in the face of reports detailing the American Future Fund’s six figure spending spree against Congressman Bruce Braley, which is backed by anonymous donors.

“Their outrage seems to disappear when they’re trying to protect their own donors,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky. “Spending six figures on a smear campaign without disclosing where a single penny came from is something that any Iowan should find outrageous.”

The American Future Fund (AFF) is a Republican special interest group led by Republican political operative Nick Ryan who was also the campaign manager for Jim Nussle’s failed gubernatorial bid in 2006. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organization, the AFF is not required to disclose a list of donors, who in 2008 were responsible for total revenue of $7.5 million.

“The Republican Party of Iowa only supports transparency when it’s convenient for them and their donors. I think most Iowans can see through this hypocrisy.” added Dvorsky.