July 4, 2012: Iowa State Senate Candidate Leaves Race, Declares Herself ‘Senator’ of ‘Republic for the United States of America’

Randi Shannon, the Republican candidate for a state Senate seat in eastern Iowa, ends her campaign and declares herself a US Senator for the mythical “Republic for the United States of America.” Shannon releases a letter on Facebook claiming that the legitimate federal government of the US was replaced by an illegitimate “corporate” government in 1871, and has been operating illegally ever since. The “Republic for the USA,” she says, is the only true American government. She says she has determined this to be true after spending months researching. Shannon says she is dropping her bid for the Iowa State Senate because she has no further intention of being part of the “unconstitutional” government. Instead, she says, Iowa’s four US House members in the “Republic” government have appointed her to serve as a senator. Shannon’s exit from the race leaves only Democrat Liz Mathis running for the Iowa Senate seat. In her letter, filled with what reporter Jonathan Terbush calls “curious capitalization meant to emphasize the government’s foibles,” Shannon tells readers that the “Republic for the USA” was the original governing body of the US in 1787, and remained in power until the 1860s, when the government was abandoned during the Civil War. It was replaced by what she calls the “UNITED STATES CORPORATION,” which has ruled the US since then in an illegal, unconstitutional fashion. She mocks the federal government for what she claims is its mission to eliminate private entrepreneurship and suppress personal liberties. The entire federal government and its elected officials, she says, has “committed the most egregious acts against ‘We the People.’” She continues: “[I]n order to affect the most good on behalf of The People of Iowa’s 34th District and in keeping with my conscience, I have accepted the position of US Senator in The Republic of The United States of America, where I may better serve You and All of The People of Iowa. I want you to know I have taken an Oath to Uphold, Support, and Defend The Constitution of The United States of America. This I will do to the best of my ability, So Help Me God.… Again, Remember, where the de jure Republic of The United States of America exists the de facto UNITED STATES CORPORATION, having no standing, must go away!” Shannon describes herself as a supporter of Representative Ron Paul (R-TX). [Des Moines Register, 7/13/2012; Raw Story, 7/14/2012] A blogger at Angry Black Lady calls Shannon’s version of the Constitution and American history “bananas.” [Angry Black Lady (.com), 7/15/2012]