Dive Summary:
- The Associated Press reports that a 2011 email from former Iowa State University Provost Elizabeth Hoffman, shows that Ruth Harkin, an Iowa Board of Regents member, pushed to get a university institute established to honor her husband, Sen. Tom Harkin.
- She reportedly wanted the matter to be private and sought a vote that she would abstain from.
- As a Board of Regents member and his wife, Harkin also seemed to be aware of ethical problems, according to the story.
From the article:
"... Hoffman’s email says Ruth Harkin “wanted it to be very private” until the institute was before the regents. Ruth Harkin abstained from the vote creating the institute, but the email says she wanted the plan to pass before the terms of two allies on the board expired. ..."