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Miles Archer

(24,111 posts)
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:04 AM 11 hrs ago

Iowa Ethanol Lobbyist sends text: "I will give you $100" if you show up for V.P. Couch Effer's "rally" [View all]

Vice President JD Vance spoke at a “packed rally” last Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa, touting the Trump administration accomplishments on the economy — but according to the Iowa Starting Line, some of those attendees may very well have been paid to be there.

“I wanted to invite you to join me in seeing Vice President JD Vance this afternoon in Des Moines,” wrote Jake Swanson, an Iowa ethanol lobbyist, in a text message obtained and confirmed as authentic by the Iowa Starting Line.

“I do some work for an ethanol company and so if you’re able to join, I will give you $100, and for anyone that you recruit, an additional $25. No limit on referrals, so if someone recruits a group of 20 to show up, that’s $500.”

Swanson is the president of High Yield Strategies, a consulting firm that specializes in economic development. He’s also served in Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration as the lead agriculture and energy policy advisor.

https://www.rawstory.com/jd-vance-2676873480/

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