Rob Sand

There are no reported criminal convictions, indictments, or bribery charges against Rob Sand. His career includes serving as a lead prosecutor for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, where he handled high-profile financial corruption cases such as the Hot Lotto lottery-rigging scandal and the Iowa Film Office tax credit fraud. Controversies during his tenure as State Auditor include: A 2024 dispute involving the misallocation of approximately $25–27 million in Iowa court debt funds due to a software error. Critics, including Republican lawmakers, alleged that his office failed to provide timely notification to the legislature, while Sand maintained his team followed standard procedures and that the error was a technical issue within the Judicial Branch. A 2024 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that found his office violated open records laws by delaying the release of documents. Allegations from political opponents regarding the use of his office for politically motivated investigations, including audits of Governor Kim Reynolds’ COVID-19 relief spending and the Education Savings Account program, which some critics characterized as campaign messaging. Reports of legislative and legal friction regarding the scope of his subpoena powers and his management style, including accusations from political opponents regarding transparency at public events.