Republican contender John Rust, vying in the Senate primary against Indiana Representative Jim Banks, has come under scrutiny following the disclosure of his amended financial statements. The disclosure unveils Rust’s substantial investments in prominent corporations known for their woke policies, which have had adverse effects on hardworking residents of Indiana. This revelation raises concerns about Rust’s dedication to representing the best interests of Hoosiers and his ability to hold these corporations accountable while having a personal stake in their prosperity.
Rust, a former Democratic voter turned businessman, is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Indiana, despite facing challenges to his ballot eligibility. His amended financial disclosure reveals investments of up to half a million dollars in PepsiCo, Inc., a food company that closed its Muncie plant in November 2023, resulting in layoffs for numerous Indiana workers. Additionally, Rust has received dividends of up to $50,000 from the company.
Furthermore, Rust’s financial disclosure indicates investments of up to $550,000 in McDonald’s Corporation, a multinational fast-food chain that faced significant fines last year for instances of child exploitation, including in Indiana. He has also received dividends of up to $15,000 from this corporation.
Moreover, the disclosure reveals Rust’s investment of up to $100,000 in Target Corporation, an American retail chain known for its embrace of woke merchandise, including controversial products like “tuck-friendly” transgender swimsuits for children.
With a net worth estimated between $38.4 million and $113.5 million, Rust’s initial financial report failed to meet several Senate ethics guidelines, necessitating the filing of an amended version.
Despite requests for comment from Breitbart News, Rust’s campaign remained silent on these revelations. In a recent ad, Rust utilized former President Donald Trump to criticize Rep. Jim Banks, Indiana’s Trump-endorsed candidate, while attempting to align himself with Trump. However, a Trump campaign spokesman emphasized Trump’s endorsement of Banks and urged Rust to refrain from using Trump’s likeness in campaign ads.
Banks, endorsed by Trump over a year ago, has a clear path to the GOP nomination for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Mike Braun. Despite this, Rust chose to challenge Banks, despite his lack of eligibility under Indiana state law due to his voting record.
In a last-ditch effort to secure a spot on the Republican Senate primary ballot, Rust filed a lawsuit, arguing that he did not vote in the 2020 GOP primary due to the pandemic and the absence of contested races in his county. However, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a stay on a lower court decision permitting Rust’s candidacy, upholding opposition from the state GOP.
