Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) was caught on camera physically accosting a political operative who tried to confront him about his past remarks.
"Congressman Nunn, do you still think that rural hospital closures are a myth?" the operative asked, as he was walking past with another man.
"I'm with a constituent. Come on," said Nunn irritably, trying to wave the operative away.
"No response, sir?" asked the operative, starting to follow him.
"No, I said I'm with a constituent," said Nunn, turning to face the operative's phone camera. "You should protect their privacy." He then moved to slap the phone out of the operative's hand, causing the scene to shift out of focus.
According to Iowa reporter Laura R. Belin, the man Nunn was walking with was actually a reporter, and not a constituent as he told the operative.
Nunn, who is a top target for Democrats in the November midterms, previously said in a local news interview in March that "I think the myth here is that rural hospitals are going to close down" as a result of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Medicaid cuts, and "That’s not the case."
In fact, some rural hospitals, including in Iowa, have already shuttered or been forced to lay off staff, citing federal cuts as the reason.
