Commentary: Law and disorder: a troubling trend among South Dakota Republican lawmakers

In January, it looks like some legislators in the Republican Party may have to attend their caucus meetings via Zoom. There’s a chance they could be in court or jail. Three Republican lawmakers have faced or are facing criminal charges since the last legislative session. We’ve all heard that government is corrupt, but it’s usually Republicans making that accusation. Now when they get together, the conversation isn’t about pending legislation but about who might know a good lawyer. It’s easy to write off one run-in with the law as a fluke and two as an anomaly. But three? That’s a trend. Legislative Republicans are developing quite a rogues’ gallery. The first offender was Rep. Travis Ismay of Newell. He initially faced felony charges for damage to a road. He pleaded no contest to a similar misdemeanor charge and promised to pay for the damages. It turns out that grading a road isn’t as easy as it looks.

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