As I predicted, Jason was not going to come out of his hole until he voted in the Electoral College;
State Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg spoke to news reporters Monday about the death of pedestrian Joe Boever.
Oh, but it gets even better;
“I believe I have not committed any crime,†Ravnsborg said.
“Some things have come out that I do not believe are accurate. We’ll let the investigation run,†he said. He didn’t elaborate. He said he would make “a full statement†when all the facts have come out.
Is Jason getting inside information about how the investigation is going before charges are filed? It seems strange that he is so confident that he is innocent. Two things stick out to me, 1) he was distracted and 2) he drove off the road. Not sure how he feels he is innocent?
It will interesting to see what kind of watered down charges are filed if any.
An announcement is expected before Christmas.
Oh, and they will try to sweep this under the rug right before Christmas when no one is paying attention. I have no doubt in my mind, even if Jason did not commit a crime, he certainly got special treatment that wouldn’t be afforded to the rest of us, and that in itself is a travesty.
Maybe he knows as he said some things have been said are not accurate—I think these was a Gov Noem power play and it failed.
I mean look at those press conferences they were clearly designed to smear him and distract from her poor handling of COVID19.
What? You don’t think most people could do this, and then be allowed to leave by borrowing the deputy sheriff’s personal car to get home? 😉
I heard he even scored an Aunt Bee pie before he completed his journey to Pierre, too. But he probably knew better than to take her pickles, however.
( and Woodstock adds: “Yah, but I bet it’s hard to get a Uber out of Ree Heights or Highmore”…. “And their jail cell probably hasn’t been cleaned-out in months”…)
In some states, Republicans are creating “Alternative Electors”, while in South Dakota we live in an alternative reality instead, where a guy who used to be a Democrat is now a Trumpster, where another guy is from Des Moines, while the third guy, or elector, is under a cloud of controversy, yet there’re state electors…. Oh, and #KowgirlKristiKovid was supposed to be one of our electors, but she choose to skip out on her orange boyfriend so she could hang with her new proud boys.
This scandal should trigger a long awaited cascade of revelations about the culture of corruption surrounding the Republican establishment in South Dakota but so far it looks like the fix is in. But according to Joe Boever’s cousin, Nick Nemec the family is going to sue Ravnsborg, the Brown County GOP, the SDGOP and the state for Joe’s wrongful death. My hope is that the settlement will bankrupt all the defendants.
I’m curious what the ‘distraction’ was? I think that is the main factor here.
Scandal? I believe “accident†would be a better word for it. This is for sure a sad incident for everyone involved. None of us were there, although VSG is using the inter webs to investigate, and be judge and jury-please keep us updated on your progress VSG. I’m sure the ambulance chasers were knocking down the victim’s family’s door the moment it happened, and I’m sure they will get a settlement, which they probably deserve. Just because he has a R behind his name, this echo chamber seems to think there is a conspiracy to cover it up.
You guys also keep bashing us voting R every cycle…I don’t know about you all, but I’ll take SD over what happens in Shitcago. Our corruption in SD would be laughed at by the D controlled states.
You guys might actually get your wish though. Every week, the Argus Leader has more and more mug shots of peaceful protesters that will vote D and you already have the panhandler vote in SF wrapped up. The teachers’ union always has their hand out, automatic D vote…all you need to do is find a few more dead people to vote D and you will have it made!
There is NO Scandal, if you all would simply read the “statute” governing pedestrians walking on “Highways”, you will see how the COURTS have ruled on these cases in the past. The COURT is not going to rule any different.
You will have to show lots of evidence, proof that this is anything but an “accident”.
You have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the Attorney General intended to hit the man or not, and you have to prove beyond reasonable doubt he was drinking, or was distracted, let alone you have to prove there was intent to harm.
Worst case, is the Attorney General gets sued in a civil case, for damages, but he will NOT lose his case in this matter. This is NOT murder in the first or second degree.
If a Governor got but a slap on the wrist for killing a motorcyclist, I’m sure there’s similar treatment for an Attorney General. The private lawsuit should triumph. It’s an OJ method that will be settled out of court.
First off, I have never floated ‘murder’ IMO that is something that is intentional or reckless. As I have said, the main factor in this investigation is what was the distraction? If phone records prove he was texting, there could be serious charges. Until we know that distraction it is hard to say why he drove off the road? My beef is that he seems to be getting special treatment just like Janklow did with Randy Scott, EB5, Gear-up, Rounds airplane scandal, Pat Powers using state data to help his personal business, etc, etc. There is a long reaching history of Republicans getting special treatment in our state when scandals occur.
You just made the case for Ravnsborg—“I have never floated ‘murder’ IMO that is something that is intentional or reckless.
You have to show recklessness to prove manslaughter and it is not here……no one can expect to know a man is along the side of the road at night in dark clothing in a dark area of the state outside of a town or city.
I would say he is not getting special treatment, the case is not there to prove and thus no ethical prosecutor can bring it.
I agree this is a civil case as the other commentators have stated.
John, that’s like saying I don’t keep a spare tire in my car because I didn’t expect to hit a nail in the road. Jason may not have hit Mr. Boever if he wasn’t driving in the shoulder. The question is what distracted him? It could have been a lot worse, just think if it was a 800 pound cow standing in the shoulder? Jason might be lucky to be alive. I still think it comes down to what he was distracted by. I also think the special treatment has been obvious from the beginning. If this is so cut and dry according to Ravnsborg, why is it taking so long to complete the investigation?
Brady Folkens of Brookings died in state custody after a botched diagnosis at the former State Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR) Academy in a county named for a war criminal on December 21, 2013 then the State of South Dakota’s Office of Risk Management helped to bury the evidence of negligent homicide. After a public outcry the death camp was shuttered and the sprawling property put up for auction.
No doubt Ravnsborg is enjoying similar cover.
“It sounds like VSG has struck a nerve with some”…. “A ‘R’ behind ones name, doesn’t matter?”… “Yah, right” #GiveMeABreak
Involuntary manslaughter only requires recklessness, but not knowledge of its potential consequences. A misdemeanor can even lead to an involuntary manslaughter charge.
But our legal system in South Dakota, due to the size of our state as well as the fact that most lawyers in this state come from the same law school, causes South Dakota to have a lack of a market economy when it comes to our state’s legal jurisprudence. Our legal system in South Dakota is essentially a single good old boy system. And without this market economy, many legal issues, especially controversial ones involving the Republican establishment, are not given the thorough give and take among lawyers, which is necessary for a thorough and honest investigation of a criminal matter of this magnitude.
Given that reality, I don’t have much faith in a honest investigation and outcome of this tragedy.
Let’s keep in mind, too, that at the time of Janklows accident, then Governor Rounds was very cooperative with the press. He even let the press see the Cadillac up close. Today, we are dependent upon distant or aerial photos to see the red Taurus. This lack of cooperation from the current governor’s office is just further proof of the current lack of transparency and fairness with this matter.
Now, why were things different with Janklow then Jason? Well, I would suggest that back in 2003 you had two Republican Parties, the Janklow Party versus the Abdnor, Thune, Rounds Party, but that doesn’t really exist anymore, and thus, the market economy within the SD GOP is no more, and in so being, its absence only further emboldens the good old boy network within our legal system.
Plus, this consolidation of the SD GOP – I will allege – over the last twenty years also further explains the lack of indictments over EB5 and the containment of the GEARUP scandal to merely Platte.
Why is it taking so long…. they can’t prove he did anything wrong.
You point out why I am suspicious of the length of the investigation. It’s hard to cover up things overnight, even though that was Jason’s first attempt.
Detroit Lewis is on record saying he has hit many bales laying in the ditches. If he has a problem hitting inanimate objects in the ditch, how hard would it be to hit a person on the shoulder of the road? I mean DL hit these bales “many times†before we had cell phones.
I agree, nothing here that is a crime and so it is taking so long to figure out how to get out of this mess the Gov made by having all those press conferences–a lot of the “evidence” they told us just doesn’t add up or they were evasive about explaining, just enough to tease but no substance behind it.
Well, as a teenager I wasn’t the best driver 🙂 Not all of us can drink 3 liters of Amber Bock and drive a motorcycle in the pouring rain.
Roundbale ignores the fact that hitting something accidentally can still be involuntary manslaughter. Plus, he confuses, or tries to combine, civil with criminal law. We all saw McGowan do that once with the Copper Lounge, too.
John, wants to blame it all on the governor, however.
For the record, I didn’t even try to drive that thing home, I pushed it on the sidewalk
Say John,
Are you the same “John” who left this lump of bull cookies in a previous South Dacola post on Ravnsborg’s incident?
“Boever is walking in the dark, in dark clothing, going away from traffic in violation of the law and possibly intoxicated after his own unreported accident.”
F&LiSF,
The roster of 2020 South Dakota Presidential electors actually included at least two who are former Democrats (not that there is anything wrong with that 😉 )
In South Dakota, what do you call a Democrat with an ‘R’ behind his/her name?
County Comissioner
State Representative
State Senator
Chairman of the State Republican Party
Even Mayor or City Councilor (despite that these are non-partisan offices).
All these, including “absolved of any wrongdoing”.
So, yes, “An ‘R’ behind ones name, does matterâ€
Are you saying that Lederman is a Democrat in Iowa and a Republican in South Dakota? If so, doesn’t that make him a political Charles Kuralt?
So our evil state goverment is going to force the state of North Dakota to falsify an investigation and make this a cover up?
No everything in your head should be relayed to others.
“I believe I have not committed any crime,†Ravnsborg said.
We had to import the accident investigators from North Dakota, now we’ll have to import an entire jury too.
LJL, who said anything about being in cahoots with ND DCI? Maybe no one wants to hear what you have to say you stupid f’ing prick.
North Dakota can only find and present facts, we still need to deal with the reality of prosecutorial discretion, which is totally in the hands of South Dakota Republican prosecutors.
Isn’t the question here that the Attorney General gets preferential treatment and that this situation got covered up pending the electoral college vote? Were it me or you, we’d be sitting in jail trying to make bond and begging family for help with litigation expense.
The AG speaks out, but any good attorney never has their client speak out, when criminal charges are possibly pending. What is that old adage? Oh yah: “A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client”
“… any good attorney …”
Yep! And Ravnsborg is certainly not that!
It seems John, the lay-barrister is always AWOL for cross-examination.
GFG, lol, I was just thinking if I was Jason and in the situation I wouldn’t hire Jason to be my attorney. Randy has so much more experience than this ass clown it is almost disgraceful that he won.
Yes, almost disgraceful that he won the election.
But totally disgraceful that the delegates to the Republicsn State Convention selected someone so lacking in qualification and experience as the party nominee.
Lederman thought it handy to have an incompetent stooge as AG.
GFG, I talked to several people who voted at that convention and many were baffled Jason won. But they did admit he worked the electors hard. And you are correct, many people knew this was Iowa Dan’s handpicked stooge.
Whatever happen to Jason’s “Five at Five on Fridays”?
You guys are forgetting Trump was one of you as well, then switched to Republican when he got older and found common sense.
Actually, a Republican, a Democrat, a Reformer, A Democrat, a Republican, and now a fascist.
“Political parties are like wives to Trumpy”… “And he ends up doing the same to both”….
The Queen is not amused –
https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2020/12/23/gov-noem-frustrated-with-pace-on-ravnsborg-crash-investigation/
A less than subtle message to the Hyde County States Attorney, “let’s get on with this”. And, IMO, “this” references charging and prosecution of Ravnsborg, rather than an act of sweeping the incident under the carpet.
And concurrent the less than subtle message to Iowa Dan Lederman, “time to extract your boy from office, Dan.”
Clearly another “Alpha” move by the Governor.
Any question about who is in charge here? She’s wearing the pants in the SD GOP (even if those pants are rodeo spandex jeans).
While I don’t know the relationship between Jason and Kristi, I would agree with Noem. They have 3 state’s attorney’s working on this case and have had the evidence for almost two months. Get on with it already.
Also, it will be interesting what they come up with. Remember McGowan’s handling of the Sideris case? Investigators identified 14 possible images and McGowan whittled it down to 1.
Janklow’s accident was on August 16th. Janklow’s conviction was on December 8th. On January 20th, Janklow resigned from the US Congress. February 7th, Janklow reported for Jail.
Jason’s accident was on September 12th. By Janklow standards, we should already be past discovery and in the heart of the trial with a January 4th jury decision. I don’t think we’ll make that deadline, however. 😉
Justice is supposed to be blind, but does it have to be slow?