South Dakota’s House of Representatives on April 12 impeached the state’s attorney general over the fatal car crash he got into in 2020.
Republican Jason Ravnsborg was impeached in a 36–31 vote.
The adopted resolution says Ravnsborg “committed certain crimes while operating a motor vehicle, which led to and directly caused the death of South Dakota resident Joseph Boever.”
Additionally, it says Ravnsborg made “made numerous misrepresentations and misstatements of fact to law enforcement and the public and misused the assets of his office” after striking Boever, which left the man dead.
As a result, Ravnsborg has “lost the faith of law enforcement, the executive branch, and the people of South Dakota,” the resolution stated.
It’s the first impeachment of a state official in South Dakota history.
Ravnsborg’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Under the South Dakota Constitution, the state House of Representatives has the power of impeachment while the state Senate tries any officers who were impeached on the charges.
While a simple majority is enough for an impeachment, a two-thirds vote is required for a conviction.
Under the state Constitution, officers who are impeached and have not yet been tried in the Senate must stop exercising his or her duties.
Ravnsborg initially told law enforcement officials that he hit a deer but later reported striking Boever.
The crash happened on Sept. 12, 2020, while Ravnsborg was on the way home from a dinner, driving from Redfield to Pierre.
While Ravnsborg was not under the influence, he failed to operate his vehicle in its proper lane, leading to the collision with Boever, the impeachment resolution says.
Ravnsborg pleaded no contest in 2021 to two misdemeanor charges related to the crash, avoiding jail time.
This is an excerpt from The Epoch Times.
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