Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Chuck Grassley

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Chuck Grassley.

Chuck Grassley is a prominent American politician and the senior United States Senator from Iowa, a position he has held since 1981. A Republican, he currently serves as the president pro tempore of the Senate, a role he also previously occupied. As the 'dean' of the Senate, he is its longest-serving member. Grassley's extensive tenure reflects a significant career in American politics.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1948: Reference to 1948 Italian Election

In February 2017, Grassley referenced the 1948 Italian election, claiming the United States had interfered with it, while commenting on Russian interference in U.S. elections.

October 1983: Voted against Martin Luther King Jr. holiday

In October 1983, Grassley voted against establishing a legal holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

November 1, 1984: Signed Contempt of Congress Citation

On November 1, 1984, Grassley signed a citation of contempt of Congress against Attorney General William French Smith for not turning over files on a Navy shipbuilding investigation.

October 1987: Criticized Reagan Administration

In October 1987, Grassley criticized President Reagan's handling of Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination and likened groups lobbying against Bork's nomination to McCarthyism.

January 1991: Voted Against Joining International Coalition

In January 1991, Grassley was one of only two Republican senators to vote against joining the international coalition to force Iraq out of Kuwait.

February 12, 1999: Voted to Convict and Remove Bill Clinton from Office

On February 12, 1999, Grassley was one of 50 senators to vote to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office.

2000: FBI internal report release

In 2000, the FBI wrote an internal report that examined 107 instances of either serious or criminal misconduct by its agents over a 16-year period which Grassley released in February 2004.

February 2004: Grassley releases FBI internal report

In February 2004, Grassley released an internal report composed by the FBI in 2000. The report examined 107 instances of either serious or criminal misconduct by its agents over a 16-year period.

November 5, 2007: Investigation into Tax-Exempt Status of Ministries Announced

On November 5, 2007, Grassley announced an investigation into the tax-exempt status of six ministries led by Benny Hinn, Paula White, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, and Kenneth Copeland by the United States Senate Committee on Finance.

December 6, 2007: Deadline for Ministries to Comply with Finance Committee Request

By the December 6, 2007, deadline, only three of the ministries under investigation by Grassley's committee had shown compliance with the Finance Committee's request for financial information.

March 11, 2008: Follow-up Letters to Ministries Regarding Finances

On March 11, 2008, Grassley and Finance chairman Max Baucus sent follow-up letters to Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long, explaining that the Senate reserved the right to investigate the finances of their organizations under federal tax laws.

2008: Investigation into Unreported Payments to Physicians

In 2008, Grassley led a Congressional investigation that found university psychiatrists, who promoted psychoactive drugs, had violated federal and university regulations by secretly receiving large sums from pharmaceutical companies. He also alleged that Alan Schatzberg underreported investments in Corcept Therapeutics.

2008: Request for APA to Disclose Drug Industry Funds

In 2008, Grassley requested the American Psychiatric Association to disclose how much of its annual budget came from drug industry funds. The APA reported that industry contributed 28% of its budget ($14 million), through advertising and medical education funds.

March 2009: Remarks on AIG Executive Bonuses

In March 2009, amid a scandal involving AIG executives receiving large bonuses from a taxpayer-funded bailout, Grassley suggested those executives should resign or commit suicide, referencing the 'Japanese example'. He later dismissed these comments as rhetoric after facing criticism.

August 12, 2009: Concerns About End-of-Life Counseling Provisions

On August 12, 2009, Grassley responded to an audience question about end-of-life counseling provisions in the House health care bill (H.R. 3200), stating that people were right to fear the government would "pull the plug on grandma."

2015: Opposition to Bipartisan Senate Bill on Cannabis

In 2015, Grassley voiced his opposition to a bipartisan senate bill, the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act. This bill aimed to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II, allowing states with medical cannabis laws to legally prescribe it and enabling more research into its medical efficacy.

2015: Statement on Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

In 2015, after the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges, Grassley released a statement expressing his belief that marriage should be between one man and a woman, criticizing the court for not leaving the issue to the states.

2016: Senate Republicans Refused to Consider Obama's Supreme Court Nomination

In 2016, Senate Republicans, including Grassley, refused to consider Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, arguing that the American people should have a voice in the nomination.

2016: Russia 2016 Investigation

In January 2018, Grassley condemned Dianne Feinstein for releasing the transcript of an interview related to the Russia 2016 investigation, stating that it deters future witnesses.

2016: Russian Interference in the 2016 Election

In January 2018, Grassley was involved in the first known congressional criminal referral in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, recommending charges against Christopher Steele.

February 2017: Comments on Russian Interference

In February 2017, Grassley commented on Russian interference in U.S. elections, stating it was "bothersome" but also noted that the United States had interfered in other countries' elections, citing the 1948 Italian election as an example.

April 2017: Co-sponsorship of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In April 2017, Grassley co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which aimed to make it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank if protesting actions by the Israeli government.

May 2017: Advice Following Comey Firing

In May 2017, after Trump fired FBI director James Comey, Grassley advised people suspicious of the Trump administration to "Suck it up and move on."

July 2017: Expressed Disappointment Over Failure to Repeal ACA

In July 2017, Grassley stated that Senate Republicans should be ashamed of failing to repeal the ACA, suggesting it could lead to a loss of their majority in the 2018 elections.

August 2017: Judiciary Committee Interview with Glenn Simpson

In August 2017, the Judiciary Committee conducted a ten-hour interview with Glenn Simpson, co-founder of Fusion GPS. In January 2018, Dianne Feinstein unilaterally released the full transcript of the interview.

October 31, 2017: Ignoring Questions Regarding Recent Indictments

On October 31, 2017, while a group of Republicans faced questions from reporters about recent indictments, Grassley ignored the questions and left the room.

2017: Comments on the Paris Agreement

In 2017, Grassley expressed concerns about the Paris Agreement, stating that its "unequal terms put the U.S. economy at a significant disadvantage while letting large economies like China’s and India’s off the hook". He also mentioned his dissatisfaction with the Senate not having voted on the agreement.

2017: Received Grain Commodity Subsidies

In 2017, the Environmental Working Group reported that Grassley had received $367,763 in grain commodity subsidies over 21 years.

2017: Sponsored Legislation Expanding Firearm Access and Comments on Gun Laws

In early 2017, Grassley sponsored legislation that expanded access to firearms by mentally disabled individuals. Following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, he stated that gun laws were unlikely to change. After the Douglas High School shooting, he said the government had not done enough to prevent the mentally ill from obtaining firearms.

January 2018: Criminal Referral of Christopher Steele

In January 2018, Grassley, along with Lindsey Graham, recommended charges against Christopher Steele, who sought to expose Russian interference, for allegedly lying to federal authorities. It was the first known congressional criminal referral in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

January 2018: Condemnation of Feinstein for Releasing Transcript

In January 2018, after Senator Dianne Feinstein released the full transcript of Glenn Simpson's interview, Grassley condemned her decision, calling it "confounding" and saying it deterred future witnesses in the Russia 2016 investigation.

2018: Comments on Women on the Senate Judiciary Committee

In 2018, Grassley suggested the lack of women on the Senate Judiciary Committee was due to the heavy workload and later added that he would "welcome more women" because "women as a whole are smarter than most male senators. And they work real hard, too".

December 19, 2019: Criticized EPA for Withdrawing Renewable Fuel Standard Rule

On December 19, 2019, after the EPA withdrew a new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule, Grassley criticized the EPA for "playing games and not helping President Trump with farmers."

2019: Signing a letter condemning the BDS movement

In 2019, Grassley was one of 14 Republican senators to sign a letter from Marco Rubio that involved condemning the BDS movement.

May 28, 2021: Vote Against Independent Commission for Capitol Attack Investigation

On May 28, 2021, Grassley voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

2021: Reaction to the Attack on the U.S. Capitol

In 2021, Grassley was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. Following the attack, Grassley condemned Trump's leadership but cautioned against impeachment, advocating for unity and toned-down political rhetoric.

2022: Statement of support for same-sex marriage, vote against Respect for Marriage Act

In 2022, Grassley stated his support for same-sex marriage, however, he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, citing religious liberty concerns and deemed the legislation unnecessary.

July 21, 2024: Comments on Biden's Withdrawal from 2024 Presidential Race

On July 21, 2024, after President Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, Grassley posted on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing Biden-Harris policies and the Democratic agenda.