(South Dakota Broadcasters Association/WNAX/DRG Media Group)- The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee this morning (March 3, 2021) unanimously voted to amend HR7001, the articles of impeachment concerning state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
The amended articles effectively halt the impeachment proceedings and cast doubt on if, or when, the issue may be taken up in the future.
District 24 Representative Will Mortenson of Pierre introduced the original resolution last week and appeared before the committee.
Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch of Glenham then introduced an amended resolution (HR7001F) which effectively halts any discussion of impeachment proceedings until after a Hyde County court resolves the misdemeanor charges against Ravnsborg.
Nick Nemec of Highmore is a cousin to Joe Boever, the man killed by Ravnsborg in a September 2020 vehicle-pedestrian accident near Highmore. Nemec testified and was critical of the committee action.
HR7001F will next go to the House floor. As a House Resolution, no Senate action is required.
On February 25, 2021, the Sixth Circuit Court issued an order precluding disclosure of criminal investigation information after Governor Kristi Noem’s release of evidence regarding the criminal charges in The State of South Dakota V. Jason Ravnsborg. The order stops Noem and all members of state government from releasing any evidence relating to the criminal case connected to the September death of Joseph Boever in Hyde County.
House Majority Leader Kent Peterson (Salem, District 19) says he thinks it’s clear Judge Brown’s intent was to honor the right to due process and a premature public proceeding might hinder that.
House Minority Leader Jamie Smith (Sioux Falls, District 15) says it’s important the legislature proceed with the impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg, but they need to allow the courts to do their job as well.
The Legislature would need to convene a special session to take up matters of impeachment, which would require 2/3 of the members of both chambers to agree.
Nick Nemec, cousin of crash victim Joe Boever, testified for Articles of Impeachment to proceed against Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, the driver of the car that killed Boever.
Photo credit South Dakota Broadcasters Association.
Nick Nemec brought a jade plant to the House State Affairs committee meeting. Nemec’s cousin Joe Boevers grew jade plants and often gave them as gifts to friends and family. The jade plant Nemec brought was a gift to Nemec’s wife from Boever.
Photo credit South Dakota Broadcasters Association.
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