South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg is not expected to take the stand at his upcoming impeachment trial before the State Senate – and there defense may wind up calling no one during the June 20-21 proceedings.
Both sides were to submit witness lists, but lead defense counsel Mike Butler didn’t – saying that he will present his case through cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, physical evidence, and possibly some defense exhibits.
The South Dakota House narrowly approved impeachment articles over Ravnsborg’s actions surrounding a Sept 2020 traffic accident that saw him hit and kill a man walking along a highway near Highmore.
The articles of impeachment charge the attorney general with breaking the law with his actions that caused the death of 55-year old Joe Boever of Highmore and with using his office to try to steer the ensuing investigation.
Prosecutor Mark Vargo witness list includes the crash investigators, 3 of whom are from with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.