Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Update: An e-mail message received from Mullin after this story was published indicates that she misspoke in the earlier phone conversation.
“Mr. Dummermuth will absolutely be replaced,” she wrote. “He is not being considered for the position.”
Original story:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa may or may not come under new leadership in the coming months, according to a spokeswoman in U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin’s office.
“We are considering the suggestions that we’ve received,” said Jennifer Mullin, press spokeswoman for Harkin, while acknowledging that the nomination would ultimately be made by the White House.
When asked if U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth, who has never faced Senate confirmation, was being considered for the job he currently holds, Mullin responded that “nothing is off the table.”
Dummermuth, one of the youngest U.S. attorneys in the nation, garnered the appointment by President George W. Bush to replace retiring Charles W. Larson, Sr. after a 2006 recommendation by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, a lawmaker for whom Dummermuth previously interned. The appointment also followed the retirement of then-First Assistant U.S. Attorney Judi Whetstine, who was initially appointed as acting U.S. attorney for the district. Dummermuth was sworn in Jan. 30, 2007 in interim for the Northern District of Iowa.
Primarily due to the timing of Larson’s retirement and the subsequent recommendation and appointment, Dummermuth has been a fringe player in the national U.S. Attorney scandal.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that there were no demands for immediate letters of resignation from existing U.S. attorneys by the incoming administration. Although Iowa Independent requested information from Dummermuth’s office as to his future plans, a response was not forthcoming.
Follow Lynda Waddington on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter