The South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s fatal hit-and-run in September of 2020 is even worse than originally expected.
It’s now being reported that just days after the incident, a GOP political strategist sent a text, reassuring Ravnsborg by mocking the victim for their political affiliation.
Text messages to and from Ravnsborg reveal a history of disparaging comments toward law enforcement officers, judges, legislators, prosecutors and a United States senator.
However, the discussion around the hit-and-run victim is particularly egregious.
When people show you who they are, believe them the first time— Sith Ofitall (@Sith Ofitall) 1646971885
When you think they've found the bottom....— Grudging Optimist (@Grudging Optimist) 1647201028
Text to Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg about man he hit and killed with his car said 'Well, at least the guy was a Democrat'. A human being is dead and it\u2019s just a joke to him.— Sarah W (@Sarah W) 1646968266
So messed up in so many ways!!https://twitter.com/keloland/status/1502088698204246016\u00a0\u2026— KB (@KB) 1647009910
you are being too kind. This is simply power-mad.— schmulie \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b (@schmulie \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b) 1646961055
Well, that is a crazy turn. This has been something to watch.https://twitter.com/keloland/status/1502088698204246016\u00a0\u2026— Ben Maas (@Ben Maas) 1646960991
Back in 2020, on September 12, Ravnsborg killed Joe Boever.
While he initially claimed he didn’t know it was a person he hit, saying he thought it was a deer, investigators found Boever’s glasses in Ravnsborg’s vehicle.
Since then, Ravnsborg has been tight lipped about the investigation into the incident, despite calls from Republican Governor Kristi Noem that Ravnsborg resign.
Two days after the hit-and-run, Ravnsborg received a text from a Republican political strategist saying:
“Well, at least the guy was a Democrat.”
Boever was the cousin of Nick Nemec, a Democrat and former state legislator. Nemec said that his cousin was registered as a Democrat, but wasn’t active in politics.
The text message came up in a letter from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety Secretary Craig Price to the Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives Spencer Gosch.
Price also posted the letter to Twitter, and said:
“In the interest of continued transparency on this important issue, I sent this letter to the Honorable Speaker Gosch today. I can’t speak for the committee, but I’m confident they are interested in the truth and facts as well.”
Nemec provided insight on the effect of the letter, saying it has reenergized impeachment proceedings for the attorney general.
The disparaging text just reinforced the mentality that the GOP has for Democrats.
When did it happen that so many Republicans became sociopaths?\n\n\u2018At least the guy was a Democrat': Text sent to Republican AG who killed man with his car sparks outragehttps://www.rawstory.com/jason-ravnsborg-2656916622/\u00a0\u2026— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald) 1646963659
One law for them and another law for us— rene harris (@rene harris) 1646961125
Republicans: Why are Democrats trying to divide us?\nAlso Republicans:https://www.thedailybeast.com/south-dakota-attorney-general-jason-ravnsborg-got-vile-text-about-joe-boever-days-after-he-was-killed/?via=twitter_page\u00a0\u2026— GQPHypocrisy (@GQPHypocrisy) 1646960597
Alarming, yes; surprising, no.— William J Reynolds (@William J Reynolds) 1647023128
I guess acting like an A-hole is the point?pic.twitter.com/0eYAET7nyi— RAKE FORCE RANGER (@RAKE FORCE RANGER) 1647224117
Ha. Watch them and be disappointed.— Jack Brown (@Jack Brown) 1646974316
The GOP has a long history of claiming that Democrats are causing the political rift between the parties, while also being incredibly divisive. They constantly make whatever comments they can to insult those on the other side of the political aisle.
This includes something as small and petty as wishing a “Happy Presidents’ Day” to everyone but President Joe Biden.