Iowa councilwoman Shellie Flockhart faces scrutiny over past child endangerment charge

Shellie Flockhart, a Dallas, Iowa, City Council member, is facing scrutiny after her criminal record surfaced following her appearance in a political attack ad. Flockhart appeared in a spot released by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC supporting Republican candidates, where she labeled Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott as ‘plain dangerous’ regarding her voting record on transgender issues.

Court records revealed that in 2017, Flockhart pleaded guilty to child endangerment and driving while intoxicated. During that incident, she was found parked on a highway with her two children, then aged 8 and 11, in the vehicle. Police reports indicated her speech was slurred and she had difficulty comprehending questions; her preliminary blood alcohol reading was 0.254, more than triple Iowa’s legal limit.

Flockhart released a statement titled ‘My Past, God’s Grace: My Testimony,’ describing the incident as an ‘inexcusable’ failure in judgment and a profound mistake that she has since addressed through legal requirements and probation.