SIOUX FALLS, SD (AP) – Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, in his first public comments since my resignation appeared before a state ethics committee last Monday to push for an investigation into fellow Republican government Kristi Noem, the person he blames for his accusation over his conduct surrounding a fatal car accident in 2020.
As Attorney General, Ravnsborg filed a few complaints against Noem with the state last year Government Accountability Body alleged that she abused her office’s powers by interfering with a state agency reviewing her daughter’s application for a real estate appraisal license and by misusing state aircraft. The board, which consists of retired judges, has not decided to Name . to investigate and works with a lawyer to assess the merits of the complaints.
Ravnsborg appeared for the first time since he started the complaints at the meeting of the government’s Accountability Body last year and said he was willing to provide additional information.
He made it clear that he believes an investigation could have far-reaching implications for Noem, who is running for reelection after a first term that has vaulted her to national fame. She is widely considered a candidate for the White House in 2024.
“I’m not going to just drop this. I think they should pursue it and I do believe the House will eventually pursue it,” Ravnsborg told The Associated Press, suggesting Noem could also be charged for her actions.
The former attorney general denied he was out to get revenge on Noem, though he blames her for his removal.
Naem and Ravnsborg became political enemies after hitting and killing a pedestrian in 2020. Noem publicly called on Ravnsborg to resign and later urged lawmakers to impeach him. The House eventually did, and the Senate convicted him last week on two charges: committing a crime that caused the death of someone and felony for mislead investigators and abusing his office.
Ravnsborg blamed “emotion and political pressure” for bringing the Republican-controlled senate against him, saying Noem wanted him removed for filing the complaints with the Government Accountability Board.
“I think of these two complaints — and there are other scandals that she’s involved in — she didn’t want the information to come to light,” he said.
Noem’s spokesman Tony Mangan declined to comment on the board’s work or Ravnsborg’s comments.
The board hired Sioux Falls attorney Mark Haigh, who specializes primarily in corporate and healthcare law, to help review Ravnsborg’s complaints. Haigh also has experience arguing before juries, boards and licensing authorities.
The Associated Press reported: last year, the governor held a meeting in July 2020, which included her daughter and key decision-makers in her appraiser license application, just days after the agency’s denial of the license. A Republican-controlled legislative committee concluded that Noem .’s daughterKassidy Peters, received preferential treatment.
Noem rejected that finding, saying her daughter followed the same process as other applicants.
But the agency’s former director, Sherry Bren, told the Legislative Committee last year that she felt “intimidated” at the July 2020 meeting, where she said Peters’ unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was drawn up. shaped to give her an unprecedented, extra advantage. chance to show that she could meet federal standards. Noem’s office said the plan was already in the works before the meeting.
Peters got her driver’s license four months later. Shortly afterwards, Bren retired under pressure from Noem’s chief of staff. She eventually received a $200,000 settlement to withdraw an age discrimination complaint.
The Other Attorney General’s Complaint was sparked by a report by rough story, a news website. In 2019, Noem used state jets to travel to events held by political organizations, including the National Rifle Association and the Republican Jewish Coalition, although South Dakota law prohibits their use for anything other than state affairs.
Noem championed the trips as part of her job as a state ambassador.
The handling of the complaints by the board started last year and took place completely privately. It can investigate the complaints and possibly hold hearings or dismiss them completely.
The judges will meet on August 3.