Given the inclination of the most radical Republicans to use child pornography as a political distraction, I was of the impression that killer Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s die-hard supporters might harbor some wild hope that Ravnsborg would prosecute T. Denny Sanford for child porn and give South Dakotans their own Pizzagate to bring down Marty Jackley, Kristi Noem, and all the other corrupt politicians who were obviously and unfairly attacking poor Jason for threatening their sleazy billionaire benefactor.
But never mind: the Attorney General’s office (where Jason Ravnsborg is most certainly not right now, since he’s still on impeachment suspension until his Senate trial three weeks from Tuesday) has announced the richest man occasionally in South Dakota hasn’t done anything Ravnsborg can prosecute:
In a notice Friday, submitted to the Second Circuit Court in Minnehaha County, Assistant Attorney General Brent Kempema said the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has concluded an investigation of T. Denny Sanford and determined that “there are no prosecutable offenses within the jurisdiction of the state of South Dakota.”
The conclusion of the DCI’s investigation will not result in charges being filed in South Dakota. It remains unclear if similar investigations into Sanford in other jurisdictions remain open [Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis, “T. Denny Sanford Won’t Face Child Porn Charges in South Dakota,” Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 2022.05.27].
Now if Jason were smart (note the use of the subjunctive to denote that which is desired or imagined), he’d pull a Kristi, release the Sanford interrogation videos, and let the billionaire hang in the court of public opinion. But that option probably wouldn’t help Jason, because, unlike Jason, Sanford appears not to have committed any crime. Plain fact hasn’t stopped Ravnsborg and his political ilk from making stuff up to score political points, but in this case, if they persist in claiming Sanford committed some heinous crime, they’ll probably get a nastygram from Sanford’s attorney and our likely next Attorney General, Marty Jackley, telling them to join Jackley in court to discuss libel.
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-obscenity
What my good friend Lar is pointing out is that it is ok to have your own private porn stash.
So the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has concluded an investigation of T. Denny Sanford and determined that “there are no prosecutable offenses within the jurisdiction of the state of South Dakota.” Ahem…
“Sanford’s electronic devices came to the attention of investigators with the South Dakota attorney general’s office after a technology firm reported that child pornography had either been sent, received or downloaded on his device, according to one of the people who spoke to AP. Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg determined there was sufficient evidence to move toward prosecuting Sanford, but passed the case to the U.S. Department of Justice because it spanned to Arizona, California and Nebraska, according to both people.” (AP News)
It ain’t over till it’s over.
Poor ‘WOTA’. He was hacked.
Reportedly, Mr. Sanford has WOTA inscribed on the soles of his shoes so people can read his self-description when he rests his feet up in their face. Warning: bile alert. It means- World’s Oldest Teen Ager.
FLDS prophet, and child rapist, Warren Jeffs did the same, disrespectful messaging on his shoes too. Only his message said, Warning: bile alert “Stay Sweet”
Old child abusers think they’re being cute, I guess..?
Pardon me, Warren Jeff’s shoes always said KEEP Sweet. Sa did his Fathers’ shoe bottoms. Be still, my guts.
Ravnsborg is fortunate to have chosen Mike Butler as his attorney because Mike has a big enough job in front of the Senate without Jason creating a second political/legal front. Mike won’t put up with stupid actions from his clients. I agree with Eve that while South Dakota law may not have a remedy for this level of kiddy diddling activity, law books in the other three states may not be so inadequate — if, indeed, there was reason for pursuing the investigation in the first place. My guess is there was enough reason to haul a billionaire with significant political punch into such an investigation.
For those of you who didn’t get creeped out enough from the past week’s GOP political dramas, check out the statuary on the Facebook page for the Sanford Children’s Hospital. Ick. They might to put that statue in that secret warehouse next to the crate numbered 9906753.
I’m gonna guess the list of possible charges against Sanford is short and sweet….Do not upset the moneybags.
A number of years ago, British police hauled guitarist Pete Townshend in for kiddie porn on his computer. he was later released when police determined he was doing some research on hoe banks are financially involved in porn..
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7617481/Pete-Townshend-says-arrest-child-porn-charges-saved-life.html
Cory writes:
“DPS is the custodian of the records and we were directed by Governor Noem to release the information as part of her commitment to be transparent on this case.”
—Secretary Craig Price, Department of Public Safety
“My office has multiple ongoing investigations into the Governor’s alleged activities and people associated with her. However, despite her procedural interference and bias towards me, I believe she has rights and should have the ability to let the process prevail …”
—Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg
Is there any word on the whereabouts of Joe Desilets? Has he left South Dakota? Is his body buried behind the governor’s mansion? Does anyone else think it matters?
Governor Noem’s “commitment to be transparent” seems to be applied selectively.
well…I suppose this makes sense. Prosecuting Sanford would cost in the seven figure range, at the least. The Ravensborg team would be up against the best defense lawyers in the country. Ravensborg would have to go to the Governor and ask for a million dollar budget bump from her emergency fund. Pretty unlikely that would happen. Don’t think the Governor would comply with that request to prosecute the Party’s biggest and most reliable funder. Ravensborg is on the sideline right now, awaiting his inevitable political decapitation. So….better leave it to the Feds.
Mr. Evans may be insaner than most but South Dakota’s governor was elected and remains in power with money raised by Trump-loyal motorcycle clubs that stash the proceeds from meth and sex trafficking tax-free in my home state. Whether a Republican billionaire can buy his way out of federal charges remains a mystery.
How isn’t the fact that a Republican former attorney general and US Attorney is representing a billionaire accused of committing federal crimes not a bigger nationwide story?
Cory writes:
“Honestly, when it comes to this [Ravnsborg impeachment], I’m screwed either way. No matter what I say. If I have an opinion, the Speaker [Spencer Gosch] accuses me of meddling, and says I can’t have an opinion. If I do have an opinion, when I’ve committed to being the most transparent governor we’ve ever had, and believe the public deserves to know the truth, I don’t want to give the Speaker a reason not to do the right thing.”
—Governor Kristi Noem
https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/02/04/noem-cites-strained-relationship-with-house-speaker-while-lamenting-failed-heartbeat-bill/
Governor Noem’s DPS secretary Craig Price released information taken out of context from Jason Ravnsborg’s personal text messages, unrelated to any criminal investigation, to smear him in the media on the day before the house investigative committee reconvened. That’s not just Governor Noem “having an opinion,” and I’d prefer a duly elected attorney general who doesn’t abuse his power to let anyone “hang in the court of public opinion.”
Mr. Evans- thanks for pointing out documented examples of Anti-Kristi’s crystal clear lies. Her “palms up” governing is more like palms out, like a beggar. Every time our governess recites her 3rd or 4th favorite word of all time, transparency, I expect her blouse would be.
How is Marty Jackley going to be able to assume the AG’s office’s ongoing investigations into Mrs. Noem’s alleged activities and activities of people she associates with?
Billionaires and governors and lawyers and counter intelligence with homicide and mysterious frame jobs. So sticky… and it’s all matted up. Gnarly.
I’d quoted Governor Noem:
Then I’d noted:
“All Mammal” replies:
You’re welcome.
That’s a good question, especially if Marty Jackley is one of the people under investigation.
My biggest concern here, though, isn’t about Craig Price using false and misleading accusations to destroy Jason Ravnsborg’s reputation, or even about Marty Jackley pulling us back toward a highly politicized attorney general’s office that runs cover for Price and other corrupt law enforcement agents. My biggest concern here is about Governor Noem misrepresenting Jesus Christ and misleading His followers, and I believe she should resign.
Mr. Evans- Your point is probably the most dangerous tactic Anti-Kristi employs. Jesus Christ’s only agenda is love.
Governor Noem fails to personally read for herself, let alone grasp and reflect upon basic teachings she bases her lies on. If she read and reflected upon Jesus’s teachings in the Holy Bible, she would actually be kind and tolerant. If she read and reflected on the latest accepted research-based scientific practices, she would not have undermined the vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.
I actually think she is perversely distorting the material in her attempts to sway those who already adhere to it, such as Christianity and the Constitution. She barnacles onto an established idea and confuses the prescribers into thinking she is representing their beliefs. If the actions we are worried about are unintentional, she should consult with experts who are respected on both sides before attempting to ride the wave of other people’s work and other people’s earned respect.
Intentional or not, it’s still scary and unbecoming.
Missy Misdemeanor Elliot said what Jesus could have- but never would have, “Ain’t no stoppin me. Copywritten so- don’t copy me. Cuz y’all do it- sloppily.”
Way off topic, my apologies, but, Hillary’s celebrated (by Fake Noize) lynching was delayed because her election lawyer was found not guilty of lying to FBI. This shoots the spit out of Durham’s 3 year HRC witch hunt to blame drumpf’s Russia scandal on someone else.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/31/politics/sussmann-verdict/index.html
Mr. Evans, given the GOP worship of greed, obscene wealth, and business over lives (with pollution, guns, and COVID), what self-identified “christian” candidate of the GOP is NOT “misrepresenting Jesus Christ and misleading His followers?”
Home run yet again MFI! “…no prosecutable offenses!”
Durham’s efforts to “investigate the investigators” are ongoing, and have outlasted the Russia probe itself, which was taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller and convicted six Trump associates, including his lawyer, his 2016 campaign chair, and a senior White House official.
AG Barr obstructed Muller’s report, perhaps together w/knowledge that requiring the absolutely ethical Russian hacking elderly US Marine as special prosecutor, to have to come before an ACTUAL congressional WITCH HUNT and verbalize his office’s 500 page investigation charging multiple Trump criminals, there was some further “monkey business” Barr could insert protecting his boss, Trump, some one who solicited his own employment with the then (now disgraced) president!
Corruption every day of his term! Trump. Barr disgusts me. If anything he says can be trusted, he true to Trump’s form has dug himself in like a fat, bloated Rocky Mountain Spotted tick. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/attorney-general-bill-bar-seditious-russiagate/2022/05/30/id/1072165/
He calls Russian-gate “Democrat” sedition. No proof. “What makes a man? Is it doing the right thing?” – The Big Lebowski. (Naw. Bill Barr,
is the BL. He is no better than Trump the carpet-pisser) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=puMPxcJmsWk
I’d written:
“O” asks:
To some extent, every Christian misrepresents Christ and misleads other Christians, but Governor Noem has flagrantly violated Jason Ravnsborg’s rights to liberty and due process by deliberately and repeatedly abusing the executive branch of government to disrupt the proceedings of the judicial and legislative branches, and that’s why I believe she should resign.
It is the constitutional responsibility, Mr. Evans, of the executive branch to hold the legislatures and the courts toes to the fires. If they cannot take it, they should fold up their cheap tents. Now, let me be clear here, since grudznick may or may not have matters pending in the courts, the judicial fellows have been just fine and are holding their own, but the legislatures are a joke.
A total joke. Everybody knows it. Why pretend otherwise?
I’d written:
And:
“grudznick” replies:
The legislature isn’t a joke.