South Dakota AG convicted on 2 impeachment charges, removed

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By STEPHEN GROVES

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal crash, removing and barring him from future office in a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didn’t believe his account of the crash.

Ravnsborg, a first-term Republican who only recently announced he wouldn’t seek reelection, showed little emotion as senators convicted him first of committing a crime that caused someone’s death. They then delivered another guilty verdict on a malfeasance charge that alleged he misled investigators and misused his office.

Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal and has said he didn’t know he struck a man — 55-year-old Joseph Boever — until he returned to the scene the next morning. Criminal investigators said they didn’t believe some of Ravnsborg’s statements, and several senators made clear they didn’t either.

“There’s no question that was a lie,” said Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber’s top-ranking Republican. “This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.”



Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg listens from the defense table during his impeachment trial on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre, S.D. (Erin Woodiel/The Argus Leader via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/jason-ravnsborg-south-dakota-impeachments-e5d62c76eedecf4c9290fecd821496aa

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

1. Human filth.

[progressoid]

2. I gotta say I'm kind of shocked by tlhis.

I've done a fair amount of work in SD and have heard all sorts of stories of the "good ole boy" network. Plus the fact that Repubs haven't exactly been holding their own accountable for the last few years.

Maybe I'm just jaded but I seriously didn't expect this.

[Skittles]

3. yes

makes me think they had other reasons for wanting him out

[bluestarone]

12. Agree! I believe

The Governor had a lot to do with this. (just my thoughts)

[BradAllison]

5. There's probably a guy worse ready to step in

A candidate ready to execute women and their doctors for pap smears.

[progressoid]

6. Sad, but not unlikely.

[LudwigPastorius]

7. Well, he did negligently kill someone and lie about it, and...

never had to spend a day in jail. Just wrote a check for $1,000, and went on his merry way. That's the 'good ole boy' network in action.

The impeachment? Well I figure a lot of Republicans want to rebrand after Trump and this guy just didn't fit their plan.

[stopdiggin]

8. with you there

particularly after he was cleared by law enforcement. Then the Senate, rather than letting it just quietly drop ... For some reason decided to up the ante?

[Beakybird]

4. They did the right thing, not because of a conscience but because of a poll.

[2naSalit]

9. I'm surprised

But he deserves far more consequence than just that.

[Mr.Bill]

10. Probably Trump's pick

for VP in 2024.

[oldsoftie]

11. No, now it'll be " I never met him. Barely heard of him"

[4Q2u2]

13. He had the Governor

In trouble with two major corruption investigations from her illegal use of State resources for her campaign. Now she gets to appoint a replacement till an election next year. Only reason he is out. He was not enough of a Good Ole Boy.

[Mysterian]

14. The average citizen would be in jail

Many republicans did not vote to impeach.