We've had a busy day rescuing our neighbors' escaped cats, while nine South Dakota state lawmakers meet to consider the evidence for impeaching South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
We're not sure if curiosity will kill the cat in the later case.
Update 1/17, 9:30 p.m.: Joe Sneve has more non-transparency news at the Argus Leader. Click through to the article:
After a third day of an impeachment investigation into South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg stemming from a fatal crash, lawmakers and the public alike remain shut out of the proceedings.
— argusleader (@argusleader) January 18, 2022
https://t.co/E2Qp8UCJYQ
[End update]
Let's lead with Siouxland's Anna Peters House Committee continues meetings in Ravnsborg investigation:
The House Committee, deciding whether to recommend the impeachment of attorney general Jason Ravnsborg, meets in Pierre on Monday.
It’s the first of three meetings this week, where the group will be learning more about a deadly crash in September of 2020.
Ravnsborg was driving a car that struck and killed Joe Boever, who was walking on the shoulder of US 14, near Highmore.
Tuesday and Wednesday, committee members will hear testimony from witnesses including investigators and crash reconstruction expert.
A lawyer for the Attorney General pleaded no contest in August to a pair of misdemeanors....
How's that working out? Keloland's Bob Mercer tweeted:
House Select Committee on Investigation went behind closed doors again Monday to decide what should be redacted from documents that will be available to the public, as it moves toward a decision whether to recommend impeachment of SD Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. @keloland pic.twitter.com/BdjWNFoIEF
— KELO Bob Mercer (@pierremercer) January 17, 2022
Okay then. Who are these secretive sorts?
Mercer reports in Who are the S.D. lawmakers deciding whether to recommend impeaching Ravnsborg?:
Nine representatives, all men, began gathering again this week at the South Dakota Capitol, trying to decide whether or not they should recommend that the state House take a step never done before — move forward on the possible impeachment of a statewide elected official.
The House Select Committee on Investigation planned to close the doors of room 362 to the public on Monday evening and begin privately making decisions on what information the public should get to see about state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
The lawmakers are looking into the September 12, 2020, crash, at the west edge of Highmore, where the personal Ford Taurus driven by Ravnsborg struck and killed Joe Boever of Highmore, as Boever was walking that night along the north shoulder of U.S. 14, from his pickup truck back into town. . . .
So who are the nine who will deliver the recommendation to the other 61 House members?
Representative Doug Barthel, age 60. Republican. Lives in Sioux Falls. Retired police chief. Sixth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee.
Representative Ryan Cwach, age 35. Democrat. Lawyer from Yankton. Fourth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee.
House Speaker Spencer Gosch, age 37. Republican. Farmer and rancher/insurance agent, from Glenham in Walworth County. Sixth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee. Appointed committee, serves as chair, so far hasn’t voted on a committee matter.
Representative Jon Hansen, age 37. Republican. House speaker pro tem. Lawyer from Dell Rapids. Seventh year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee.
Representative Steven Haugaard, age 65. Republican. Previous House speaker. Lawyer from Sioux Falls. Eighth year as a legislator. Voted no in special session on appointing the committee.
Representative Kevin Jensen, age 67. Republican. Business owner from Canton. Sixth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee.
Representative Kent Peterson, age 41. Republican. Farmer and rancher from Salem. House majority leader. Eighth year as a legislator. Drafted petition seeking November 9, 2021, special session to consider investigating Ravnsborg. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee. Co-sponsored resolution in 2021 regular session that originally called for impeachment of Ravnsborg.
Representative Jamie Smith, age 50. Democrat. Real estate agent from Sioux Falls. House minority leader. Sixth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee. Co-sponsored resolution in 2021 regular session that originally called for impeachment of Ravnsborg.
Representative Mike Stevens, age 68. Republican. Lawyer from Yankton. Eighth year as a legislator. Voted yes in special session to appoint the committee.
Thanks guys. A Yankton radio station tweeted an interview with one member, who has some
Committee Member Ryan Cwach Says There Is An Overall Lack Of Transparency In The Ravnsborg Case https://t.co/ysCQHfjnKh
— Yankton's Home Team (@KYNT1450) January 17, 2022
We'll be keeping an eye on this.
Related posts
- South Dakota AG Ravnsborg unable to fund office for missing Indigenous persons
- Only the beginning for Ravnsborg impeachment inquiry: a South Dakota news digest
- Ravnsborg impeachment: South Dakota House select committee to meet Dec 28 & Dec 29
Photo: Ravnsborg's Taurus, via Rapid City Journal. From the New York Times' transcription:"“We know that his face came through your windshield,” one investigator said. The vehicle also had an imprint from at least part of the man’s body on the hood, an investigator said, adding that “at some point he rolls off and slides into the ditch.”
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