We last posted stories about mankiller South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg in South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg had two close calls with police before fatal crash and Scenes from South Dakota Republicans' Itchy and Scratchy Show, now on a campaign website.
In the days since those posts appeared, more stories have emerged in advance of the April 12 meeting of the South Dakota legislature to review the no-impeachment report of the House special investigative committee.
In the Argus Leader, we found Joe Sneve's reporting, Troopers say South Dakota attorney general's traffic crimes killed man:
South Dakota Highway Patrolmen who led an investigation into Jason Ravnsborg's fatal crash in 2020 told lawmakers Wednesday the attorney general "beyond the reason of a doubt" drove outside his lane of traffic while distracted.
And that has members of the South Dakota House of Representatives, who next week will decide whether the 45-year-old Republican should be impeached, doubting the findings of a recently-released 22-page report that says he shouldn't.
"All the evidence we had 14 months ago when I brought the first Articles of Impeachment have only been confirmed by the evidence we've seen," said Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Pierre. "The attorney general ran out off the road and because of his crimes, he caused the death of Mr. Boever."
His remarks followed a two-hour briefing with state troopers where about three dozen lawmakers got a final look at evidence stemming from the Sept. 12, 2020, crash that killed 55-year-old Joe Boever. . .
Not that the special committee heard that.
At the Mitchell Republic, Hunter Dunteman reported in Troopers ‘weren’t allowed’ to give presentation during Ravnsborg impeachment inquiry, DPS tells lawmakers:
Troopers who investigated the scene of a fatal crash involving South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg say they “weren’t allowed” to give a presentation of their findings to a House committee that probed the incident.
The House Select Committee on Investigation on March 28 recommended that Ravnsborg not be impeached for striking and killing pedestrian Joe Boever on Sept. 12, 2020.
A presentation containing detailed findings by South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper John Berndt and Sgt. Kevin Kinney saw the light of day for the first time Wednesday afternoon, April 6, as the South Dakota Department of Public Safety gave a briefing in Pierre to lawmakers on their investigation into the crash.
During a question-and-answer portion following the conclusion of the presentation, Rep. Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City, who requested DPS host the briefing, asked Berndt and Kinney if they had given their presentation to the House Select Committee during their testimony on Jan. 18.
“No, sir,” responded Berndt, a 20-year veteran of the Highway Patrol who assisted with the mapping and investigation of the crash. . . .
Read the rest at the Mitchell Republic.
A state lawmaker who consulted South Dakota's attorney general following a fatal 2020 crash will not participate in any further impeachment proceedings.
Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, informed leadership in the House of Representatives Wednesday that he will recuse himself from any votes involving the potential impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg, who struck and killed a pedestrian with his vehicle on Sept. 12, 2020.
Earlier:South Dakota lawmaker gave Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg legal advice after fatal crash
"Recent news reports have raised the issue of a potential attorney-client relationship between me and Attorney General Ravnsborg arising out of our conversations in the days following his traffic accident," Odenbach wrote in a letter to House Speaker Spencer Gosch. "To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, I am writing to let you know that I will be recusing myself from the House vote and will not be attending the proceedings in Pierre on April 12th, 2022."
Recently released investigation files compiled by law enforcement following the death of 55-year-old Joe Boever showed Ravnsborg reached out to Odenbach following the crash that occurred along Highway 14 in Hyde County. Odenbach told investigators that he provided Ravnsborg with input on a statement the attorney general released the day after the crash.
Well, that's a relief.
Near the end of March, Tom Lawrence asked at the South Dakota Standard, Justice for Joe Boever? 18 months after being killed by AG Ravnsborg, it's worth asking: Did he receive that?.
Head over to the South Dakota Standard for a thoughtful read.
Photo: The Taurus with which Ravnsborg killed Joseph Boever, who was walking on the shoulder of the road with a flashlight.
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