PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- The South Dakota Speaker of the House has released the names of the House members who will serve on the committee that will determine if impeachment proceedings move forward against the state’s current attorney general.
Representative Spencer Gosch (gosh) of Glenham tells DRG Media Group he’s appointed eight members to the Special Investigative Committee on Impeachment. They are:
- Kent Peterson of Salem– republican majority leader, farmer
- Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls– democrat minority leader, realtor
- Ryan Cwach of Yankton– democrat, attorney
- Mike Stevens of Yankton– republican, attorney
- Steve Haugaard of Sioux Falls– republican, attorney
- Doug Barthel of Sioux Falls– republican, retired police chief
- Kevin Jensen of Canton– republican, business owner, retired law enforcement
- Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids– republican, Speaker Pro Tempore, attorney
- Spencer Gosch of Glenham– presiding officer and tie breaking vote only– republican, Speaker of the House, farmer
The special session to consider the possible impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg (rounds-berg) will be held one week from today (Nov. 9, 2021) at the State Capitol in Pierre. Gosch doesn’t expect the session to take long.
While he has been able to see the files related to the investigation into the incident where Ravnsborg struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever (beaver) along a highway near Highmore last year (Sept. 2020), Gosch says the rest of the House members have not.
Gosch says committee members will have access to public and private information.
South Dakota legislators are holding a special session Monday (Nov. 8) to agree on the boundaries for the state’s legislative districts, based on 2020 US Census data. Whether they finish Monday or not, Gosch says the House has to convene for its impeachment special session on Tuesday.
Last week the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Gosch didn’t have to release names of legislators supporting a special session to consider Ravnsborg’s possible impeachment. He did disclose that at least two-thirds of the House members supported holding a special session.