Iowa AG Brenna Bird joins Donald Trump entourage in NYC, calls hush money trial 'a travesty'

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird called the charges against Donald Trump a “scam” Monday as she joined the former president's entourage at a New York City courthouse where he is standing trial in a criminal hush money case.

Bird, a Republican, has been an outspoken Trump supporter, endorsing him ahead of the 2024 Iowa Caucuses and using her elected position to aggressively target Democratic President Joe Biden's policies.

In video footage, Bird can be seen Monday morning entering the courthouse behind Trump along with a gaggle of his supporters, including U.S. Sens. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.). Vance is reported to be a vice presidential contender as Trump seeks another term in office.

Bird’s office confirmed to the Des Moines Register she was in attendance, and a spokesperson said no taxpayer money had been used to fund her travel.

Brenna Bird: What I saw at Donald Trump's trial 'is a travesty'

During a mid-day break in court testimony, Bird joined a news conference outside of the New York City courthouse with fellow Trump supporters, including Vance and Tuberville.

She said she traveled from Iowa to represent the red state's support for the former president, who is running to defeat Biden in November.

"We need him back as our president leading our country again," Bird said. "My background is as a prosecutor, and what I saw in that courtroom today is a travesty. Politics has no place in a court of law."

Bird said Trump should be campaigning, not spending time in court. She claimed the charges brought against Trump by a federal grand jury are a "scam" to prevent him from winning a second term.

"They try to charge him with all these ridiculous things that include a star witness who is a perjurer, disbarred, convicted of lying," Bird said. "It tells us the state we are in this country right now."

The Iowa Attorney General’s office issued a statement in which Bird again railed against the trial, saying in part: “I am glad to stand with President Trump in New York today in opposition to the lawfare being waged against him."

The Iowa Democratic Party criticized Bird's appearance in New York.

“Iowans deserve to know whether their hard-earned money is going to a political photo op 1,100 miles from the State Capitol," party chair Rita Hart said in a statement. "Even more so, Iowans deserve an attorney general that’s focused on serving her constituents — not her political ambitions."

Bird has made a point of opposing the Biden administration at every turn. A Register analysis published in January found that her office has brought, joined or filed more than a dozen briefs against the federal government.

When Trump won the Iowa Caucuses Jan. 15, he lauded Bird in his victory speech, telling the Iowa crowd, "She's going to be your governor someday."

Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, took the witness stand Monday in an effort to convince the jury that Trump authorized him to pay $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, and that Trump arranged to reimburse him in a scheme that would cover up the hush money.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty.

Cohen was disbarred after pleading guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress, among other crimes. Prosecutors hope to overcome that baggage and persuade a jury Cohen is telling the truth.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird went to Trump hush money trial