Identity of Speakers
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Colby Brandt
Student
OtherStudent Body President at Iowa State University
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Recognized student group event
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University investigation not issuing in sanctions
State Campus Free Speech Act
Title IX or other federal statute
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
On February 18, 2026, the Iowa State University Student Government Senate passed five articles of impeachment against Student Body President Colby Brandt. The articles alleged that Brandt had signed a non‑disclosure agreement with the Campus Victory Project, a nonprofit leadership program affiliated with Turning Point USA that trains students with conservative political views for campus leadership roles. They also claimed Brandt attended an all‑expenses‑paid “prospective victory retreat,” worked as a paid recruiter, and attempted to recruit other Student Government members to join the organization while serving as president. The impeachment followed revelations during the presidential and vice‑presidential debates about Brandt’s relationship with the organization and his actions in office.
The articles were submitted to the Student Government Judicial Branch for review. On February 20, 2026, the Judicial Branch dismissed the impeachment. The court said the articles were largely related to Brandt’s political ideology and associations. Pursuing them would violate his First Amendment rights. The court noted the articles were not content and viewpoint neutral, placing them outside its jurisdiction under the Student Government Constitution. No further action was taken, and the decision was affirmed after consultation with the University General Counsel.
Brandt issued a statement expressing gratitude for support from across the country. He emphasized that no student should be discriminated against on a college campus because of political beliefs. The dismissal effectively ended the impeachment proceedings without a hearing or trial.
On February 22, 2026, Chief Justice Pro Tempore of the Student Government Supreme Court, Daniyal Shahbaz, issued a dissenting opinion criticizing the decision to dismiss the impeachment. Shahbaz said that by preventing a trial, both sides were deprived of their rights. He argued that the decision had been influenced by political pressure. He warned that allowing politics to affect judicial processes could undermine the impartiality of the Student Government judiciary.
