Grassley aides: Role not tied to investigation

By JANE NORMAN • jnorman@dmreg.com • July 22, 2008 Washington, D.C. — Aides to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Ia., on Monday downplayed reports that he was dumped by Iowa Republicans as a delegate to the Republican National Convention because of his investigation of six televangelists. Beth Pellett Levine, Grassley's press secretary, said Grassley won't be a delegate, but he will attend the convention and will have floor access as a federal elected official. She said Grassley, as well as Iowa's two Republican congressmen, Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham, will not be delegates "in order to give additional Iowa Republicans the opportunity to participate in the floor proceedings and activities of the national party convention." Levine said that Grassley told state party leaders he would be a voting delegate if they wanted, "like he... [read full story]