A resolution proposing two Articles of Impeachment (HR7001) to remove South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg from office is scheduled to be heard at 7am tomorrow (March 3, 2021) in the House State Affairs Committee.
HR7001 included two separate Articles of Impeachment– one concerning the crimes and misdemeanors that caused the death of 55 year old Joseph Boever of Highmore the night of September 12, 2020, and one concerning the statements and actions of Ravnsborg in reporting the crime and the resulting investigation.
District 24 Rep. Will Mortenson of Pierre– who is also a lawyer– filed the resolution last week (Feb 23, 2021).
During a legislative cracker barrel in Highmore over the weekend (Feb. 27, 2021), Mortenson said his decision was not political.
Ravnsborg is charged with two misdemeanors in connection to the death of Boever after hitting Boever with his car as Boever walked along the side of the highway. A third misdemeanor charge is connected to Ravnsborg’s behavior while driving east of Highmore, prior to the accident.
District 23 Rep. Charlie Hoffman said this is a difficult situation.
If HR7001 passes out of committee tomorrow morning, District 24 Senator Mary Duvall said a timeline for further action will begin to be worked out.
The Articles of Impeachment resolution is co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Kent Peterson and House Minority Leader Jamie Smith.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has said Ravnsborg should resign. Late last week, the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police, South Dakota Chiefs’ of Police Association and the South Dakota Sheriffs Association issued a statement saying they are unified in requesting that Ravnsborg resign. Noem would appoint his replacement.
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