South Dakota lawmaker who advised Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg won't vote on impeachment
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A state lawmaker who consulted South Dakota's attorney general following a fatal 2020 crash will not participate in any further impeachment proceedings.
Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, informed leadership in the House of Representatives Wednesday that he will recuse himself from any votes involving the potential impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg, who struck and killed a pedestrian with his vehicle on Sept. 12, 2020.
Earlier: South Dakota lawmaker gave Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg legal advice after fatal crash
"Recent news reports have raised the issue of a potential attorney-client relationship between me and Attorney General Ravnsborg arising out of our conversations in the days following his traffic accident," Odenbach wrote in a letter to House Speaker Spencer Gosch. "To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, I am writing to let you know that I will be recusing myself from the House vote and will not be attending the proceedings in Pierre on April 12th, 2022."
Recently released investigation files compiled by law enforcement following the death of 55-year-old Joe Boever showed Ravnsborg reached out to Odenbach following the crash that occurred along Highway 14 in Hyde County. Odenbach told investigators that he provided Ravnsborg with input on a statement the attorney general released the day after the crash.
Earlier: South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg had 2 close calls with police before crash
The call prompted Dakota Institute for Legislative Solutions, a nonprofit that touts itself as a champion of Gov. Kristi Noem's agenda, to target Odenbach with an attack ad that suggested Odenbach was covering for Ravnsborg. Dakota Institute also ran similar ads targeting members of the House Select Committee on Investigation, which last week issued a formal recommendation that the attorney general not be impeached for his conduct related to Boever's death.
The code of conduct in the state Legislature requires legislators to avoid conflicts of interest that interfere or influence their duties as legislators.
The state House will convene at 11 a.m. Tuesday to consider the committee's recommendation and any Articles of Impeachment filed in advance of the proceeding.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Lawmaker who advised Ravnsborg recuses himself from impeachment vote
