Tuesday, April 12 is South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's birthday. Will the South Dakota House gift him with a no vote on articles of impeachment--or will we see a modicum of justice for Joseph Boever, the Highmore man Ravnsborg killed on the shoulder of a road after a bout of distracted driving in September 2020.
On Friday, we posted Another week in the official life of SD's Attorney General, a couple more fugly narrative wrinkles.
Another chapter is emerging in the press.
UPDATE: Since we assembled this digest, veteran South Dakota journalist Tom Lawrence reported in Republicans Are Finally Turning on Their Killer Attorney General at the Daily Beast:
If South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg long seemed virtually certain to dodge any real consequences for fatally running over a pedestrian in 2020, it looks increasingly like he faces a real threat.
Not to his liberty, but to his political career. And the danger comes not just from his longtime nemesis Gov. Kristi Noem, but from a growing swath of his own GOP, who dominate the state legislature and face a key step next week in deciding whether to impeach him.
Republican State Rep. Charlie Hoffman told The Daily Beast Friday that he had been “on the fence” about whether to impeach Ravnsborg for killing Joe Boever two years ago, but was now determined to do so. A presentation from South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers last Wednesday that offered new details on just how reckless a driver Ravnsborg has been changed his mind, Hoffman said.
“After seeing the length of time Mr. Boever’s body was on the AG’s car with his head inside of the AG’s car’s window, and then flying off hitting the middle of the lane behind the AG’s car, leaving bone fragments on the road and skidding into the ditch at 65 mph, my mind has changed,” he told The Daily Beast Friday morning. “I now have irrefutable evidence the AG knew exactly what he hit and lied to investigators and the Hyde County sheriff.” . . .
Read the rest at the Daily Beast [end update]
At the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Joe Sneve reports in Ravnsborg impeachment articles drafted, circulating ahead of House vote:
Five hundred seventy-seven days.
That's the time that will have passed between a fatal crash that killed 55-year-old Joe Boever and the political judgement day for the man behind the wheel.
The South Dakota House of Representatives will gavel in at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the state Capitol for what could be the state's first-ever impeachment of a constitutional officer.
But exactly how the final day of a special legislative session convened in November to specifically vet whether the conduct of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg related to the 2020 crash will play out, and if the 45-year-old Republican will be impeached remains uncertain. . . .
Drafted by Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Pierre, the resolution states Ravnsborg was not forthcoming with a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash as well as detectives who investigated the crash, and that he used state assets to benefit himself personally.
Mortenson declined to comment for this article.
Procedural mechanisms for delivering both Mortenson's resolution, as well as the committee's 22-page report, have yet to be established by House leadership or the Legislative Research Council.
House Speaker Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham, told the Argus Leader on Friday, because this is the first time the Legislature has ever gone through the impeachment process, research and dialogue with the LRC about how best to proceed are ongoing.
While any motion made to accept the report could be replaced with a substitute motion, Gosch said it's his preference to allow resolutions relating to impeachment to be introduced independent of the committee's report.
"We're still navigating through that," he said. "But I think it would be much more cleaner if they brought their own resolutions."
And while many lawmakers are also still keeping their intentions on Ravnsborg's impeachment close to the vest, they all say they're eager to put the attorney general saga behind them.
"This is long overdue, and hopefully, we can get the situation resolved for the betterment of the people of South Dakota," said Rep. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank.
At KELO, Don Jorgenson reports in Lawmakers to decide if Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg should be impeached:
On Tuesday, South Dakota lawmakers will decide whether the conduct of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, surrounding the death of Joe Boever, involved impeachable offenses.
The deadly crash and possible impeachment involving Jason Ravnsborg have made headlines in South Dakota and nationally for more than a year.
Back on September 12th, 2020 Ravnsborg was driving home from a political function in Redfield when he struck and killed Joe Boever who was walking along the shoulder of Highway 14 with a flashlight.
Ravnsborg called 911 and told the dispatcher he hit something. . . .
Last week, the House Select Committee voted 6 to 2 to “not” recommend the impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg.
But just this past week, the Department of Public Safety gave a detailed and lengthy briefing to some lawmakers on their investigation and findings, where they said again Ravnsborg was distracted the night he hit and killed Joe Boever.
Even though investigators say they were prepared to show the House Select Committee members that same presentation, they were denied that opportunity.
So now, it’ll be up to the full House to decide on Tuesday if Ravnsborg’s actions are impeachable offenses.
The editorial board of the Black Hills Pioneer pulls no punches in Ravnsborg no longer holds the trust of South Dakotans, it is time to impeach him:
Tuesday, members of South Dakota’s House of Representatives are anticipated to vote whether to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, perhaps ending the saga of his Sept. 12, 2020, crash that claimed the life of Joe Boever as he walked along Highway 14 near Highmore late at night.
On March 28, by a 6-2 vote, along party lines, the select committee chose to not recommend impeachment.
We strongly disagree and call for state representatives to impeach Ravnsborg. And to Ravnsborg himself, we call on you once again, as we did in our Editorial on Sept. 4, 2021, to resign. You no longer instill the confidence of South Dakotans or the personal integrity to hold the office of the top law enforcement officer in the state.
In the 21-page majority report, Republicans of the select committee repeatedly cite a clause in the state constitution that says officials can be impeached for actions “in office” and then argue most of Ravnsborg’s actions surrounding the crash were not done in his official capacity as attorney general or were not done with “an evil or corrupt motive.”
This is what state law says:
“The Governor and other state and judicial officers, except county judges, justices of the peace and police magistrates, shall be liable to impeachment for drunkenness, crimes, corrupt conduct, or malfeasance or misdemeanor in office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of trust or profit under the state. The person accused whether convicted or acquitted shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.”
The majority says his crimes, for which he was convicted, were not conducted while in office. Rather, he was returning from a Lincoln Day dinner in Redfield.
We disagree. When a person is elected to office, they are, from that point forth, until they leave office, “in office” 24/7. They represent South Dakota and the people who elected them. Public officials should be, and are held to a higher standard than your average citizen.
Even Ravnsborg said that when you are the AG, you’re “always runnin.’”
During his interview with the North Dakota investigators, Ravnsborg recalled his conversation with Sheriff Mike Volek where he explained that he was returning home from a Lincoln Day Dinner when the accident occurred.
“He goes, ‘well you’re not running this year are ya, already?’ and I says, ‘no, but you’re Attorney General, you’re always runnin’ you’re always out seein’ the people and I think that’s what you gotta do and get out and find out what their concerns are and talk with them,’” Ravnsborg said. “That’s what you should do as an elected person.”
Ravnsborg has been pulled over by law enforcement more than 25 times, crash investigators found. Eight of those traffic violations have been since he was elected South Dakota attorney general. And guess what, in five of those traffic stops, he identified himself as the attorney general or displayed his badge to the law enforcement officer.
Now it is no secret that law enforcement officers often give fellow cops, firefighters, ambulance crew members, and judges the professional courtesy of a verbal warning during minor violations of the law such as a speeding infraction. It is that officer’s prerogative to cite, issue a written warning, or a verbal warning. And they do that with the general public as well. That doesn’t mean they won’t place cuffs on a fellow officer as it is well documented that they do.
So was Ravnsborg trying to get that professional courtesy when he displayed his badge or identified himself as the AG?
In most of his traffic stops he was issued a verbal or written warning. However, he has been cited numerous times for speeding both in South Dakota and Iowa.
Four days before his trial, he was cited for going 57 mph in a 35 mph zone.
In September 1996 he was cited for going 6-10 mph over the posted speed limit.
In September 2003 he was cited for going 11-15 mph over the posted speed limit.
In January 2014 he was cited for going 54 in a 45.
In March 2014 he was cited for going 40 in a 30.
In March 2015 he was cited for going 1-5 mph over the posted speed limit.
In May 2015 he was cited for going 85 in a 65.
In May 2017 he was cited for going 75 in a 70.
In April 2018 he was cited for going 80 in a 65.
In August 2018 he was cited for going 40 in a 35.
According to crash investigators, Ravnsborg’s entire vehicle was on the shoulder of the road at the time of the crash. It also took him 614 feet to stop from the time of impact. Normally it would take, “less than 200.”
So we are left now with more questions than we had following the tragic accident.
Why was Ravnsborg completely on the shoulder that was equipped with rumble strips?
Is it plausible that he did not see Boever at the time of the crash? Afterall, his head went through the windshield and his blood and glasses were found inside Ravnsborg’s car.
Did Ravnsborg really not see Boever lying dead alongside the road as he walked back to the “Highmore” sign to double check which town he was near? Remember, Boever was carrying a flashlight that was still lit the following morning and was inches from the road. Subsequent tests of the flashlight at night in the crash location, found that it was “shining like a beacon.”
Volek, who in the meantime died on Nov. 1, 2021, did a subpar job in his investigation the night of the crash. Numerous law enforcement officers who’ve conducted countless deer/auto crash investigations said the first thing you do as a cop when told an animal as been struck is look at the damage. Is there hair stuck on the car? Is there feces on the vehicle? If not, something is not right, they have likely struck something other than an animal. Then, you look for the injured animal. You don’t want it suffering, and you don’t want it to create another crash by running back into the roadway. Volek even told investigators that he saw Boever’s light shining, but thought it was a part of Ravnsborg’s car and did not investigate it.
So did Ravnsborg know he hit a person, and, after the sheriff botched the investigation, thought he was going to get away with it? Did his conscience then get the better of him by the next day?
Ravnsborg, in his interview with North Dakota investigators, said he saw Boever’s body when he was walking along the road to read the sign verifying that it was Highmore he was near, but he quickly changed his story. Did he really see Boever, or did he misspeak? Investigators said that he would have had to pass right by Boever, laying right along side the road.
How were the select committee members chosen, and are any of the members Ravnsborg’s friends?
Why did the committee meet almost entirely in executive session, secluded away from the public and even the general legislators?
The full report was released on March 30. Is two weeks enough time for House members to review it and make an informed decision on whether to impeach?
Almost 40 legislators listened to two Highway Patrol troopers outline the crash investigation Wednesday. There are 70 members of the South Dakota House of Representatives, so what about those other 30 members? Have their minds already been made up?
Why did the select committee decline to hear the same report? Instead they were only allowed to ask questions of the troopers.
Did Gov. Kristi Noem “taint” the House members when she issued information released about the crash, even before Ravnsborg’s court hearing? Those reports included video interviews with Ravnsborg, crash scene diagrams, and more.
Does the Republican leadership not want to impeach Ravnsborg because if they do, Noem is the one who will appoint a new AG? Ravnsborg is currently investigating whether Noem broke ethics rules over her use of the state airplanes as well as her handling her daughter’s certification as a real estate appraiser. Is this what’s concerning the leadership regarding a replacement appointment by the governor?
The questions go on. And on.
Now, we do not believe that Ravnsborg should be impeached simply because of the crash. Accidents can and do happen. Nor do we believe he was intoxicated at the time. But no other tests were conducted for other substances in his system until the day after the fatal crash.
We also do not believe he is being truthful with investigators.
He twice pulled out in front of law enforcement officers forcing them to hit their brakes to avoid striking him.
Yes, he stopped and called 911.
Yes, he was cooperative with the sheriff on the scene and did not leave until he was released.
Yes, he turned over his car and cell phones to investigators and sat for interviews with them.
Yes, he was within his rights to not appear in court for the misdemeanor charges he was convicted of and therefore not face the family.
The South Dakota Sheriff’s Association has called for his resignation.
The South Dakota Police Chiefs Association has called for his resignation.
The South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police has called for his resignation.
When these top law enforcement organizations call for his resignation, it is clear that they no longer hold confidence in him, and the legislature should listen and act accordingly.
To read the minutes and to listen to the audio from the select committee hearings, visit, tinyurl.com/AGsesh0409
To read the committee’s report and the full investigation packet, visit, tinyurl.com/AGtree0409.
As we've asked before, why does Jason Ravnsborg still have a driver's license, much less serve as the Rushmore State's attorney general?
As we noted in our earlier post:
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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