South Dakota House Majority Leader Kent Peterson is calling for a special session of the South Dakota Legislature to start the formal investigation process to consider if impeachment articles should be filed against state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
Last month (Aug. 26, 2021), Ravnsborg pleaded “no contest” to two misdemeanor traffic charges related to the death of Joeseph Boever near Highmore one year ago (Sept. 12, 2020). The judge ordered no jail time, but ordered Ravnsborg to pay a $500 on each of the two misdemeanor counts as well as associated court costs.
Peterson will be formally petitioning all members of the legislature beginning next week. He’s is calling for the special session to begin November 9, 2021. To call a special session, 2/3rds of the members of both the House and Senate would need to answer the call.
In February, District 24 Republican Representative Will Mortenson of Pierre filed a resolution proposing articles of impeachment to remove Ravnsborg from office. HCR7001 included one Article concerning the crimes and misdemeanors that caused the death of Joseph Boever on September 12, 2020, and a separate, second Article concerning the statements and actions of Ravnsborg in reporting the crime and the resulting investigation.
In March, District 23 representative and Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch from Glenham said the House would wait until after “the judicial system is able to do its job” to proceed with articles of impeachment against Ravnsborg.
Gosch feels a process that is fair to all parties involved is crucial to ensure that due process may prevail. He says if the call to special session is successful, he intends to appoint a committee to investigate the situation.
Gosch says the Legislature is not equipped to, nor does not intend to, retry criminal matters. He says the state Constitution is clear on what the legislature’s role is (Article 16) and the process will be fair, thorough and transparent.
House Minority Leader Jamie Smith wants South Dakotans to understand this is not a political party issue, but rather an issue of the state. He says democrats and republicans are working together in a nonpartisan manner to ensure a fair outcome.
Last week (Sept. 1, 2021), Governor Kristi Noem instructed the state Department of Public Safety to provide Gosch a complete copy of the investigation file “to assist the House in its important work.” Noem, the South Dakota Democratic Party and organizations representing the state’s law enforcement officers are among the entities calling for Ravnsborg to resign. He’s said he doesn’t intend to do so.
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