South Dakota attorney general's impeachment trial begins following fatal 2020 crash

AG Jason Ravnsborg told 911 operators on night of Sept. 12, 2020, he struck "something;' victim turned out to be a pedestrian

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg lied to investigators and abused the power of his office after he struck and killed a pedestrian on the side of a road, prosecutors argued Tuesday at the opening of Ravnsborg's impeachment trial.

Ravnsborg arguing that removing their client from office over what he has maintained was an accident would improperly undo the will of the voters who placed him in office.

The Republican official is facing two charges in the state's first impeachment trial. He recently announced that he will not be seeking a second term for his office. Investigators, in addition to several lawmakers and the victim's family, have questioned the attorney general's account of what happened following the 2020 crash.

State senators may also vote on whether Ravnsborg will be permitted to hold future office.

The impeachment trial process is expected to take two days and will put to rest the chapter of South Dakota politics that has stretched through the pandemic and pitted South Dakota Republicans against one another.

Among them is Gov. Kristi Noem whose persistence in trying to have Ravnsborg removed from office has raised questions from some in her own party.

Noem called for Ravnsborg to resign and publicly endorsed his predecessor for election as his replacement.