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Accountable.US: “RAGA’s continued refusal to cut ties with South Dakota’s disgraced top law enforcement official amounts to complicity in this shameful victim-blaming behavior”

Washington, D.C. — As disgraced South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has pleaded no contest today to two charges related to striking and killing Joe Boever last year while driving “distracted,” government watchdog Accountable.US penned a letter to Republican Attorney General Association (RAGA) Chairman South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Policy Chairman Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, and RAGA Executive Director Peter Bisbee calling on them to demand Ravnsborg’s resignation and cut ties with him. 

Read the full letter here and below: 

Dear Attorney General Marshall, Attorney General Wilson, and Mr. Bisbee: 

On behalf of government watchdog Accountable.US, and in response to South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleading no contest today to two charges related to striking and killing a man last year while driving distracted, I write to urge you, as ranking members of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and as your state’s top law enforcement officials, to demand the resignation of South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg. 

Ravnsborg’s criminal charges stem from killing a man while driving “distracted” on his cell phone after a late-night Republican fundraiser. There has since been strong bipartisan support for his resignation, including from the state’s Republican Governor Kristi Noem and large swaths of South Dakota law enforcement. Republican state legislators have filed for impeachment, and the Army Reserves placed a hold on his military promotion. 

On the heels of the no-contest plea, it is time to finally join the broad spectrum of voices calling on the disgraced attorney general to resign. RAGA is Attorney General Ravnsborg’s largest campaign contributor by far, having donated over $100,000 to his campaign efforts. His profile and donation page has also remained active on RAGA’s website. The question is whether or not you will continue to support someone whose reckless behavior and disregard for the law cost a man his life.

It is indefensible that Ravnsborg remains South Dakota’s top law enforcement official while his victim’s family is forced to watch this play out in public. Ravnsborg and his legal team have been floating outrageous and offensive defenses, including suggesting the victim was suicidal and threw himself in front of Ravnsborg’s car. RAGA’s continued refusal to cut ties with South Dakota’s disgraced top law enforcement official amounts to complicity in this shameful victim-blaming behavior. 

By standing behind Attorney General Ravnsborg , you are sending a message that you believe one of your own is above the law and above consequences. Given the judge’s wrist-slap ruling today that Ravnsborg will serve no jail time and walk away with only $1000 in fines, Ravnsborg continues to avoid real consequences for his deadly actions. That is why it is more important than ever that RAGA act decisively by pushing Ravnsborg out of their ranks once and for all. 

We look forward to hearing from you.  

Sincerely,

Kyle Herrig  

President, Accountable.US 

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