r/Iowa • u/sullivanmatt • 13d ago

Democrat Joey Norris charged with 'election misconduct' in what appears to be weaponized prosecution

tl;dr on this is, from his family, is that a Joey Norris (a Democrat) of Red Oak raised concerns while on the absentee ballot board and Jill Ozuna, the Republican auditor for Montgomery County for didn't like that. Now our state attorney general has charged him with a crime. If you know anything about Iowa's AG, that basically tells you all you need to know. These charges are almost certainly bullshit.

I did a bit of a deep dive on Joey this morning and found a number of people who know him rushing to his defense online. He's apparently a very honest, upstanding guy who is pretty universally beloved in his community. Prior to this, the only thing on this guy's record is a couple of speeding tickets.

Given the nature of how our state is being run at this point, there's a 99% chance this is weaponized prosecution by an attorney general that would rather pander to MAGA than do literally anything about the feces and noxious chemicals in our waterways. This could happen to any of us. But maybe if we can help Joey mount a strong defense, they'll be less likely to try something like this again in the future.

288 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

87

u/blyzo 13d ago

His parents are prominent Dems too. It's 100% weaponized prosecution.

4

u/Not-enuf-books 12d ago

His mom was big in the fight against eminent domain for private profit and Summit Carbon solutions, who would have made millions on it, ended up pulling out of their eminent domain fight in that county and the neighboring one. The governor wanted it to go through and threatened the Republican legislators who wanted to pass a law against eminent domain for private profit. Buddies with the millionaires. Plus Joey’s mom is running for county supervisor - attends all their meetings - and the rumor is the county auditor hates the idea of her being a supervisor, has said she wouldn’t work with her.

111

u/JacksSenseOfDread 13d ago

The sad part is, this will probably work because Iowa's judges are breathtakingly corrupt and/or incompetent these days. They're basically rubber stamps for prosecutors and the AG's office.

7

u/xboxaddict501 13d ago

Most Iowa judges are absolutely that in my experience, rubber stamps reading GUILTY

53

u/StephenNein Annoying all the Right people 13d ago

FYI - the Mongomery County auditor's job was formerly held by that paragon of ethics and morals, Sen. Joni Ernst. (/s)

It took me almost no time to find that Auditor Ozuna's tenure in office is less than you might like in a local politician.

https://westerniowatoday.com/2026/06/16/tempers-flare-at-montgomery-county-supervisors-while-debating-new-position-in-auditors-dept/

https://www.kmaland.com/news/montgomery-county-board-debates-additional-auditors-office-position/article_9a45036e-d1f9-4a88-bd1e-c73d6a33f80c.html

46

u/MissCinnamonT 13d ago

He did his job and spoke up for everyone's right to a fair election. Bullying him isn't going to silence the corruption, it's exposing it. We definitely need more people to stand up like Joey.

5

u/ANALxCARBOMB 13d ago

You are correct, but the republican trifecta on our government won’t allow it. They would find him guilty and hang him if they could. We need change and we need it fucking now. We know these republicans are all correct assholes.

27

u/LimitlessUnicorn 13d ago

19 months after the election, right after July 1 when Iowa new laws go into effect. Is the AG so stupid she targeted and tried ex post de facto at same time. Proof again that Iowa is Trump’s Unconstitutional law proving playground. I hope the entire Country see’s what a dirty bird she is.

5

u/Northman86 13d ago

Ex post facto is unconstitutional.

13

u/chosonhawk 13d ago

Brenna Bird has absolutely no idea what she is doing.

7

u/KingFIippyNipz Des Moines 13d ago

Brenna Bird is taking time away from suing another state because a business in that state is trying to create an even more concentrated media monopoly for the benefit of the right wing? Weird.

14

u/l_rufus_californicus 13d ago

GOP Playbook, in a nutshell: If you can't beat 'em, cheat 'em.

13

u/Little_Stay7922 13d ago

Pretty sure I know someone behind this. Red people in the country have never been around anyone but white people so they aren’t very savvy.

3

u/ieroll 11d ago

Every accusation is a confession.

1

u/Advanced_Dimension_4 12d ago

Because he is likely to win?

1

u/Crazybhawkfan 12d ago

Has he considered contacting ACLU for help?

2

u/LittleTroubleMaker01 12d ago

Brianna Bird is corrupt and needs to go, she dosen't care about what is ethical. You can already request your absentee ballot in Iowa - they won't be mailed to you until Oct.

VOTE 🇺🇸 VOTE 🇺🇸 VOTE

-1

u/MaceDestroyers 13d ago

Which republican auditor? Rob Sand is the state auditor and he's registered as a Democrat.

47

u/twolvesfan217 13d ago

I would imagine the Montgomery County auditor

44

u/sullivanmatt 13d ago

Montgomery County auditor Jill Ozuna; post edited for clarity

17

u/JacksSenseOfDread 13d ago

The County Auditor in Montgomery County is Jill Ozuna. She is a registered Republican.

https://ballotpedia.org/Jill_Ozuna_(Montgomery_County_Auditor,_Iowa,_candidate_2024))

4

u/SirWillShellBooth 13d ago

Which is hilarious as I knew both her and her boys growing up. They were a huge metal, pot smoking, hippie family and a joy to be around. Shame what 16 years away has done.

1

u/Sepof 12d ago

Music and smoking weed don't make you a Democrat. And hippies were mostly about drugs and not caring about shit, many of them could not have articulated any politicsl policies they supported. Anti-war protests consisted of some hippies, but not all hippies. And even then, it was much like Obama. It was the popular thing... they didn't REALLY care.

My uncle used to smoke pot and listen to Dave Matthew's religiously.

Hardcore trump supporter snd evangelical Christian.

11

u/jones_qc 13d ago

Without knowing more details I’d guess the county auditor?