South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem called a surprise press conference on Sunday evening to announce that the state attorney general, Jason Ravnsborg, had been involved in a fatal car crash the night before. Details were scant but Ravnsborg released a statement saying, “I am shocked and filled with sorrow following the events of last night. As Governor Noem stated, I am fully cooperating with the investigation and I fully intend to continue do so moving forward.” Noem did not say who was killed or how. “Law enforcement is working on identifying the deceased and notifying the family,” she said at a press conference that lasted all of three minutes.
The Rapid City Journal reported that Ravnsborg was driving home to Pierre from Redfield after a state GOP dinner at Rooster’s Bar and Grill. He called 911 after the crash and was not injured himself. His spokesman told the newspaper that the AG “drinks lightly” and he does not think he was drinking at Rooster’s. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is running the investigation but a spokesman said the accident report will not be released until Monday. Ravnsborg, 44, is an Army veteran who was elected in 2018.
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