On January 28, People For the American Way members and other activists rallied outside of Republican Senator Joni Ernst’s district offices in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids to demand that the senator vote to include key witnesses, including John Bolton, to ensure that we have all the relevant facts in the impeachment trial. Activists held signs calling for a fair impeachment trial and calling on the senator to do her job in holding Trump accountable. 

Matt Sinovic, PFAW organizer and Executive Director of Progress Iowa, shared the sentiments of activists at both events when he said:

 “Our senators have the chance to do the right thing and hold a fair trial. Anyone with direct knowledge of what happened should testify, and the Trump administration must stop blocking evidence from coming forward. Ernst and Grassley should stop helping Trump cover up his criminal activity. Iowans and history will remember how they vote and act in this trial.”

With a vote pending in the next few days, Sen. Ernst could be among the four Republican votes needed to call for witnesses prior to a vote to acquit or remove the president from office.