Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn says state officials are investigating a group that recruited a fellow Republican to run against Nunn as an independent. Joe Wiederien (WEED-eh-ryn) of Scranton has withdrawn his name from the General Election ballot and attended Nunn’s campaign fundraiser this weekend. Nunn asked him to stand and be recognized.

An Associated Press report published earlier this month found a group called the Patriots Run Project had recruited candidates to run as independents in six congressional races — including Nunn’s.

Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, is running for reelection in Iowa’s third congressional district. The Patriots Run Project also tried to recruit a candidate to run as an independent against first district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, but didn’t collect enough signatures on nominating petitions. Miller-Meeks referred to the situation during her remarks at Nunn’s fundraiser.

A spokesperson for the main campaign group supporting Democrats running for U-S House seats has said the organization had no knowledge or involvement in the Patriots Run Project activities in Iowa or elsewhere.