Ravnsborg impeachment referred to select committee

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Legislature has voted to create a select committee to investigate the possible impeachment of South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

The vote was 58-10 to refer the matter to the committee, with two excused.

The committee will be able to hear evidence, call witnesses, etc. No timeframe has been set.

Ravnsborg struck and killed a Hyde County man, Joseph Boever, in September 2020. Boever was walking along the shoulder of Highway 14 near Highmore at the time. Ravnsborg entered pleas of no-contest to misdemeanor charges of illegal lane driving and illegally operating an electronic device while driving before the case went to trial.

Impeachment would require a simple majority in the House (36 State Representatives).

If the House moves forward with impeachment, Ravnsborg would be suspended and face a trial in the State Senate.

Conviction in the Senate would require a two-thirds majority, or 24 State Senators.

If convicted, Ravnsborg would be removed from office.

If the Senate did not reach two-thirds majority, he could return to office.