Tiffany Campbell has sent the following letter to every South Dakota Senator to urge them not to confirm Attorney General Marty Jackley’s appointment of former legislator and policeman Gene Abdallah to the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Parole:
Dear Senator *****,
I was shocked when I read that AG Jackley appointed former Rep. Gene Abdallah to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Let me tell you why. In 2012, I was a first year lobbyist in Pierre when, Rep. Abdallah sexually harassed me. One evening, shortly after session ended, I went to Bob’s Bar and sat with Rep. Abdallah. It was well known among lobbyists, this was the best time to discuss bills with him. At one point I said to Rep. Abdallah, “Excuse me I need to use the restroom.” As I got up, he motioned me to lean down, so I could hear him whisper, “Can I watch you pee?” I said “No.” Stunned and embarrassed, I left the bar immediately.
After reflecting on this incident for several days, I approached Speaker of the House Val Rausch, and relayed what happened. Rep. Rausch informed me that because this behavior did not take place at the Capitol, there was nothing that could be done by him by way of censure, and asked me on which night this unwanted advance occurred. After I told Rep. Rausch, he replied, “Yeah, I heard he was pretty bad that night.” While I do not believe alcohol excuses harassment, this incident occurred during the daylight, and I did not perceive Rep. Abdallah to be intoxicated. I chose not to pursue this incident further because of the reception I received from Rep. Rausch, and because I became concerned about my ability to successfully lobby if I made the allegations public.
I have since shared my story with Argus Leader.
This was the worst, but by no means the first time, I witnessed inappropriate behavior by Rep. Abdallah. One evening, prior to his harassing me, Rep. Abdallah left a dinner visibly intoxicated, and drove his vehicle. When I asked Rep. Cronin, who had been dining with us, and also witnessed his drunken behavior, if he should be driving, he remarked, “That man will never be picked up in this town.” I was horrified by this statement. My concern was not whether he would receive a much deserved DUI, but whether or not he would strike another vehicle or pedestrian on his way home. He was a lawmaker, and former Superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, he should hold himself to a higher standard than that of an average citizen.
I am no longer willing to stay silent, and I do not believe men who abuse power should be rewarded for their bad behavior. If Gene Abdallah’s appointment to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, is approved, he will be just that. I have informed Jeromy Pankratz, AG Jackley’s campaign manager of my concerns. If AG Jackley does not rescind his appointment of Gene Abdullah, I ask that you vote “No.” I welcome any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Campbell [letter to South Dakota Senators, text provided to Dakota Free Press, 2017.11.29]
So far, A.G. Jackley accepts Abdallah’s denial of Campbell’s accusations, ignores the disqualifying brutishness of Abdallah’s bitter counterattack on Campbell, and stands by the appointment. The Senate will take up Abdallah’s nomination sometime after the 2018 Session convenes on January 9.
Bravo, Tiffany Campbell! Bravo!
As I commented the other day, the initial allegation and details in that allegation proved to me (outcry statement, etc) that there was validity, MUCH validity, to what she was claiming. And doing what the good ole boys in Pierre do – basically told her to go away and dismissed her.
Her letter even supports this more (is it mathematically possible to get more than 100%? smile) And provides even more detail and includes more people that enable/have enabled Abdallah’s behavior over the years. It fits the same old “pattern” that we are finally, FINALLY, waking up to that we need to stop ignoring. Sexual predators/harassers are bad, of course. But the enabling and looking the other way with these things, just compounds it.
So Rausch not only blew Ms Campbell off, but he heard that Abdallah was “pretty bad that night”? What the? And nothing was done? That Abdallah would never be arrested in “this town”? Yep, this is enabling and good ole boy-ism at its finest.
Again, Mr Jackley. You really need to tread carefully here. By not rescinding your nomination of Abdallah (still shocked that you nominated him in the first place with all of the Abdallah track record) , especially at this point? Yikes. If you aren’t paying attention that South Dakotans are getting pretty sick and tired of the Pierre good ole boys club, then you do that at your peril. If you continue to be tone deaf to what is happening not only in this state, but in the country as a whole regarding sexual harassment and good ole boyism? Wow.
Thank you for your courage and bravery Ms Campbell. Hats off to you. Even though you are owed an apology from Rausch and Jackley, and more so from Abdallah- I’m sorry you had this happen to you. It should have never happened and it should have been dealt with at the time.
I’ve attended the Annual Game Feed ( Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner and Children’s Charity Fundraiser) in the past. It was widely accepted that “no one gets a DUI on Game Feed night”.
When you want to determine what type of person someone is, the easiest way is to look at the character of their children. The kids will mimic the parent no matter what image the parent has presented themselves in public.
I few years ago I was told that there is a very high suicide rate among teens in Pierre. Some one wondered why. I did not know but now when I see how much injustice there has been there, it no longer surprises me that kids lose hope in such a disasterous lack of justice. When people in power think they are getting by with it, there is always a dead bird in the mine. The Bible says, be assured your sin will find you out. There are not only consequences to a mistake, but there are consequences to cover ups as well.
And there wasn’t any other person in the State to appoint to the Board? What is it with the musical chairs? We are constantly rotating people from office to office.
I just don’t understand why we continue to do what we do. Maybe we need some NEW people in office. I think the Pierre Swamp needs to be drained.
The GOP has become the party of pedophiles, perverts, and supporters of Rapist Rights. Moore in Alabama is an example of the pedophiles, Abdallah is example of a pervert, and the politicians who want to force women to bear the children of rapists are the supporters of rapist rights. Apparently an attack on Roe v Wade is sneaked into the GOP/Trump tax scam.
Kelly, I would support replacing every elected position and every appointed position in the executive branch with individuals who have not served in state government. (Unfortunately, in the gubernatorial race, that would leave me voting for Terry LaFleur….)
I’m going to state something a little bit different on this matter.
I don’t think it is Jackley’s job to revoke the nomination. I think it is the Senate’s job to not approve the nomination.
Once a politician nominates someone to a position I believe the only way it should be revoked is if the nominee request it.
It is the job of the Senate (or whoever confirms the nominating process) to evaluate these complaints and decide if they should approve or not.
Mr. Voigt, should the fellows in the Senate who have ever had libations at the Bob’s bar with Mr. Abdallah recuse themselves from the vote? Just a question that occurred to me as I was counting the people Mr. Abdallah has had drinks with.
That is one thought Mr Voigt. But Jackley isn’t “just a guy” that made this nomination. He is the state’s top cop. He is running to be governor of this state.
Jackley’s decision making on this nomination is in question. But a real leader, would publicly do the right thing, and withdraw the nomination.