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Memo to Rounds: You’ve Been Served (On July 14, 2009)

Last updated on 2018.06.13

The Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee submitted several questions to former Governor Mike Rounds concerning his involvement with the illegal activities conducted by his EB-5 coordinator Joop Bollen. The second set of questions ended with this query:

When you were served legal matters of the Darley petition in July of 2009 to force South Dakota into arbitration because of Joop Bollen's actions, why didn't you fire Joop Bollen and why didn't you initiate legal action against SDRC, Inc. which had pledged to hold harmless and indemnify the state of South Dakota? [question from Senator Larry Lucas, sent by Senator Larry Tidemann, chairman, Government Operations and Audit Committee, letter to Mr. Michael Rounds, 2014.09.16]

Rounds responded thus:

The governor's office "was not served". The BOR was. See #3 and the letter to GOAC dated June 16, 2008 regarding your personnel questions [M. Michael Rounds, response to GOAC, 2014.09.22].

Rounds's recollection appears to have faltered.

Proof of Service of Summons on "Mike Round, Governor," Darley v. SDIBI, 2009.07.23, p.1
Proof of Service of Summons on "Mike Round, Governor," Darley v. SDIBI, 2009.07.23, p.1
Proof of Service of Summons on "Mike Round, Governor," Darley v. SDIBI, 2009.07.23, p.2
Proof of Service of Summons on "Mike Round, Governor," Darley v. SDIBI, 2009.07.23, p.2

On July 23, 2009, Bob Duncan, agent for American Legal Support Services, Inc., filed a Proof of Service of Summons, attesting under penalty of perjury that he served several documents, including a notice of hearing on October 14, 2009, at 9:30, relating to Darley International LLC vs. South Dakota International Business Institute, on "Mike Round, Governor" at 500 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD. The document says Duncan left these papers with "Nyla Navotony, Assistant to Governor" (actually Nila Novotny) on July 14, 2009, at 3:30 p.m. and informed her of the general nature of the papers. Duncan also mailed copies of these papers to the Governor on July 22, 2009, from Los Angeles. Duncan indicates his fee for this service was $145.

Mike Rounds says he was not served in Darley v. SDIBI. The official proof of service says Mike Rounds was served.

We've already discussed that one of the state's primary arguments against Darley's initial suit against SDIBI in federal court was that Darley failed to serve the Governor and the Attorney General, the only officials authorized to receive service in lawsuits against the Board of Regents. We've already discussed that when Darley wound up for a second legal pitch in Los Angeles Superior Court, it was highly unlikely that Darley would make the same mistake.

Now we have the documentary evidence that, yes, Darley served Governor Rounds.

We also have documentary evidence that Mike Rounds made at least one false statement to the Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee.

The next logical question for a duly inquisitive Government Operations and Audit Committee should be, Mr. Rounds, how many more false statements have you made to us?

81 Comments

  1. John Tsitrian 2014.10.02

    I'd like to take this up, but would appreciate it if a lawyer or two can clarify something. The "party served" is IBI, Rounds is its "authorized agent." Does this give Rounds some rhetorical cover when he claims that he, personally, was not served?

  2. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Alternatively, the proper response would be to enter reference your document and say:

    "Yes, Mr. Rounds, perhaps this will refresh your memory. You were in fact served, now please answer the question. I'll repeat it. When you were served legal matters of the Darley petition in July of 2009 to force South Dakota into arbitration because of Joop Bollen's actions, why didn't you fire Joop Bollen and why didn't you initiate legal action against SDRC, Inc. which had pledged to hold harmless and indemnify the state of South Dakota?"

    And THEN ask how many other questions he has answered falsely. Rounds should answer the question on the table first, don't you think, Cory? I think EVERYbody wants to know that answer. Dems, Repubs, Indys, the committee, the media... everybody.

  3. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    John, that seems like pretty thin gruel, doesn't it? He might as well just say "My last name is not "Round." LOL

  4. mike from iowa 2014.10.02

    Technically he would be correct,Bill. There could be a Mike Round in South Dakota somewhere,although I haven't found him,yet.

  5. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Uh, huh. I'd like to see the ad where he says that, Mike from Iowa.

    "Those dang Democrats are lying again, look right here, it says "ROUND." That's not my name, and that's all the proof you need, isn't it? I never saw this darn thing." (waves copy of service paper) I'm Mike Rounds, and I approve this message."

  6. Bill Dithmer 2014.10.02

    Rounds was never served. Wrong name on papers, not legally served. And then this.

    " No matter who serves the papers, if personal service is used, the claim and a summons must be handed to the defendant. You can't simply leave the paper at the defendant's job or home or in the mailbox." http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/small-claims-book/chapter11-4.html

    It looks like a good secretary met an incompetent lawyer.

    The Blindman

  7. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Bill D. If you hand deliver an important letter to the Governor's office, hand it to his secretary, and mail a backup registered copy to that same address, do you have a reasonable expectation that you have successfully delivered your communication to the Governor?

    Rounds can perhaps claim that he wasn't "legally served" but to maintain that he was unaware of what was going on stretches credibility to the breaking point don't you think?

  8. WayneF 2014.10.02

    "Ours is a problem in which deception has become organized and strong; where truth is poisoned at its source; one in which the skill of the shrewdest brains is devoted to misleading a bewildered people."

    Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

  9. scott 2014.10.02

    mike doesnt even want to tell "grandpa don" what he knows.

  10. Bill Dithmer 2014.10.02

    "reasonable expectation that you have successfully delivered your communication"
    Yes

    But if that doesnt satisfy the legal aspect it doesn't make much difference. Lets just say Rounds secretary gave him "plausible denighablity" when the paper was left at the office, and noticed the name was wrong and chose to not bother the Gov with it.

    Of course we know that isnt what happened but lets face it, two serving errors serving the same documents twice?

    The Blindman

  11. mike from iowa 2014.10.02

    At least Rounds or Round hasn't denied ever knowing Bollen,yet. Blindman-whitey wingnut has abused the term plausible deniability ever since I first heard it surrounding Ronnie Raygun that it should be referred to as laughable or unbelievable deniability.

  12. mike from iowa 2014.10.02

    Actually,you see,I was under the legal age so I couldn't have been served legally,even had I wanted to be served. I didn't need that fake i.d.

  13. 96Tears 2014.10.02

    In answer to your question, Cory, about making false statements, Mike Rounds and his posse (same as when he was governor) don't care what they say. They control the process lock, stock and barrel. They know they can get away with anything (hello Mr. Benda?) because they correctly assume people stop listening when you start a conversation with the term "EB-5."

  14. Steve Sibson 2014.10.02

    Good to see the feet are being held to the fire.

  15. mike from iowa 2014.10.02

    In your case,Sibby,it would be pin feathers.

  16. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Larry, this morning on my way to the office, down past the spillway of Canyon Lake near where Falls Drive intersects with Park Drive, I saw three turkeys strutting slowly across the street, up over the curb and into yard freshly festooned with a nice new ROUNDS sign.

    The turkeys slowly gathered around the nice little name on legs and commenced peck, peck, pecking.

    I took it as an omen, Kurtz.

    Not quite goat entrails, but close. LOL.

  17. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    I noted that in Montgomery's piece he said that Seth Tupper was provided the documentation by an anonymous source. It seems that there is either a Rounds leaker and Patrick Duffy's call for a whistleblower may have panned out.
    There is potentially a number of people that could got caught in a government snare. Hopefully more will come forward.

  18. Jana 2014.10.02

    GOAC needs to reconvene and gain testimony from the Board of Regents.

    The more we find out the less likely the "I wasn't aware defense" is destroyed.

    One BOR member that should be called on first is now in the Governor's inner circle, making DD's willful ignorance lose credibility as well.

    This story is not going away and the GOP's latest shriek about Obamacare won't be loud enough to quiet the press or the public's right to know.

  19. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    That image made me laugh out loud, Bill: what is the sign count in the Hills?

  20. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Here's what I get Mr. Rounds and Company is saying about the above service of legal papers:

    "Look, the State of South Dakota gets sued all the time. It wasn't my job to go know about all that stuff. I was a busy guy, and that was the Board of Regents' problem."

    Really?

    This is the guy our GOP buddies want to have representing us in Washington? A guy who doesn't even want to know the details when his own state is being sued for possible investment fraud by Chinese immigrants under a Federal program his own state was administering?

    Come on.

    How can anybody possibly vote for him with a straight face?

    What am I missing here?

  21. Steve Sibson 2014.10.02

    "What am I missing here?'

    Politics is driven by deceit and propaganda. You are part of it Bill.

  22. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Sibby, have you ever tried pissing up a rope?

  23. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    sloppy lawyering, misspelling, plaintiff sdibi is not likely to have a registered agent for service of process listed with the secretary of state as mike rounds, the gov.

    blame it on a lawyers secretary, or clerk but lawyers can never escape ultimate responsibility for failure to proofread. and, whoever the la firm is it appears they haven't sued out of state much otherwise such obvious, fundamental, jurisdictional errors wouldn't be made. kinda hard to bill client 3-400 an hour and make these kind of mistakes.

    but rounds' mistakes since hiring benda and facilitating joop's excesses, are on a reaganesque (sara palin made up word for herself) level-the grand delegator-or what ever the myth is.

  24. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    Well, now we know why Rounds wouldn't appear in person before GOAC, place his hand on the Bible and star answering questions.
    In his written responses he didn't have to swear to tell the truth and didn't. He likely knew that he wouldn't get charged for perjury by giving written answers.

  25. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    Bill

    It should be pointed out that someone still has to tell Sibson to put the toilet seat up before he takes a piss.

  26. mike from iowa 2014.10.02

    Sibby is a neo-whitey wingnut masochist. Every comment just begs someone to abuse him.

  27. Steve Sibson 2014.10.02

    So what do we call a governor who continually hides behind the people underneath him? This time it is Novotny.

  28. Joseph.Voigt 2014.10.02

    I can buy that he didn't know right away that he was served.

    But with all of this Benda, Bollen, EB-5, these statements, you are telling me no one from the governors staff, or from his political staff, asks if the governors office was served over this?

    I just find it odd

  29. Francis Schaffer 2014.10.02

    Well, if we get technical his first name isn't Mike or Michael, right? How will his name appear on the election ballot this fall? If it says Mike Rounds, is that really him?

  30. barryh 2014.10.02

    Here is my concern with the eb5 scandal. My conservative friends as well as my liberal friendsthat I speak to on main street have no idea what it's about. All they see is the same ole mud slinging from campaign ads. What does a party do to educate the folks that aren't politicos?

  31. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    barryh, here's a little coaching for you.

    A great many people don't really care what the issues are, or even who the candidates are. You're not going to be able to change that on short notice.

    A lot of people think all the candidates are liars and bums except maybe their candidate. Probably can't change that, either.

    The conversation you're looking for is the one where people seem to be genuinely interested in who the candidates are because they haven't decided who they're going to vote for. In that context, you can have a conversation (because they are open to one) about all the issues (EB-5 being one of them) and share what you know about how the candidates stand, especially on those issues that are most important to them.

    That's actually what the candidates themselves are doing (or should be doing) when it gets close to voting time (which it is right now. The polls are open.)

    Short version:
    1. Only have political conversations with undecided voters.
    2. Talk to them first about what THEY think is important.
    3. Finally, tell them what YOU think is important.

    Do that, and you can make a difference.

    Trying to convince someone who's already made up their mind, or doesn't want to listen is a waste of your precious time. Good luck!

  32. Jana 2014.10.02

    Like I said, this story isn't going away anytime soon as the latest KELOLAND story proves.

    Start the countdown for Mike, Michael or Marion to find safety in the bubble of the echo chamber and for his flacks to start shrieking about one or all of the following: Reid, Obamacare, Benghazi and Squirrels!

    I'm just thinking that if he doesn't have the courage to debate, take responsibility or tell the truth...how can he stand up to ISIS or Elizabeth Warren.

  33. Curt 2014.10.02

    Mr Fleming offers excellent coaching ... especially in the 'short version.'
    I have voted, so the latest revelations are too late to change my vote. But rest assured that neither our current Gov nor his predecessor got my vote.

  34. Jana 2014.10.02

    John Tsitrian over at his Constant Commoner blog has an interesting post on the "Buck Stops There" leadership of Mike, Michael or Marion.

    I would only add that this is how Mike deals with the buck.

    Something goes wrong = pass the buck
    Something goes right = put the buck in your own pocket
    Given the opportunity = put the buck in your crony's pocket for future favors.

  35. Steve Sibson 2014.10.02

    "But rest assured that neither our current Gov nor his predecessor got my vote."

    The same goes for me, but I am not going to vote for a Democrat who has no clue about how to fix the problem, or worse yet, only willing to make the system of legal corruption even bigger.

  36. Roger Elgersma 2014.10.02

    To get voters interested in EB-5 we need to show what went wrong and what does not add up. Not just keep repeating that we think there might be a problem.

  37. Roger Elgersma 2014.10.02

    No one shoots themself in a way that would be a slow painful death hidden behind a woods where no one could find them.
    Then blame it all on him by saying that we did not know him all those years, and wonder if the dead man can take all the blame.
    Benda got a million from Rounds so Rounds could show he was interested in the packing plant and put over half on reserve for his own salary. That is decietful if Rounds knew, incompetent if he did not, and sly either way since he did not find a real need for the money when he paid it out. So, since he knew it did not go to an emergency, he would have known were it did go.

  38. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    If we want to get friends, relatives, or associates to learn more about Rounds and his EB-5 scandal, you must refer them to Madville Times before they vote.
    I'd like to take pause and thank Citizen Cory for his reporting this scandal in the first place. He has been relentless in pursuit of the facts and truth that Republicans are covering up and stonewalling.
    For a year now we haven't seen much action on this scandal, but like many of knew, revelations would come out. I thank Cory for the unbelievable of amount of investigating he has done.
    Even if Rounds wins in November, it is will be only a momentary vindication for him. The EB-5 scandal will follow him into the senate chamber.

  39. john tsitrian 2014.10.02

    RE: Cory. +1, Roger.

  40. bearcreekbat 2014.10.02

    Today's RC Journal story confirms my earlier argument that we benefit even when someone like Rounds who refuses to testify agrees to make written statements although we know the statements will not be inculpatory on their face. Now Rounds' exculpatory claims may well hurt him because subsequent objective evidence has contradicted these claims. Agreeing to make any statements orally or in writing during an investigation is a fool's errand.

  41. barryh 2014.10.02

    Just heard Ed Shultz is heading our way...he is looking to put exposure on Rounds....this a good thing or no?

  42. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLRRRRRRRRRiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

  43. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    bcb-the game is delay. rounds, daugaard, jackely, tidemann have conspired to conceal criminal acts because they think they will still win an election. just like boz. deep thinkers!

    Special Prosecutor, aggressive committee investigation, an aggressive Minnehaha commissioner, the tribes suing SOS grant. Cummulative meltdown of SDGOP, and P does not mean party. we gotta hurry, be creative. GET IN THERE HARRY REID, AND SAVE THESE ELECTIONS.

  44. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    RE-your 1st sentence is absolutely ignorant. call a suicide therapist.

  45. Steve Sibson 2014.10.02

    Really, this EB-5 scandal is only important because it may impact the election? If so, this is very sad.

  46. barryh 2014.10.02

    thanks for the advice Bill...Iguess what I was trying to get at is what will it take to shine a glaring light on this subject where the folks at ground level can see it?...I feel that it cannot be in a campaign ad it needs to be in a news story...

  47. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    it'll be interesting to see who rounds exposes as the brain behind hiring joop, going separate from the state. the soft underbelly of the sdgop.

  48. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    barryh, you are exactly right. News trumps ads every time.

  49. Francis Schaffer 2014.10.02

    I guess if I wrote a check to Mike Round and sent it to his campaign he wouldn't cash it as the name is incorrect.

  50. Jim 2014.10.02

    About the only thing rounds admits to knowing is that Joop and co. Were going to make a fortune. He describes this fortune as 'operational expenses', which his buddy sveen says were 'properly applied'.

  51. owen reitzel 2014.10.02

    I have a question. Rounds spokesman Rob Skjonsberg said that "State government is sued frequently and the governor, any governor, would not necessarily see every summons delivered to the state."
    Anybody know how often the state is sued? I'm curious

  52. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    Excellent question Owen.
    Most likely there are plenty on nuisance suits that don't draw a lot of attention.
    Your question leads to another question, how many more lawsuit are there out there relating to the Rounds Scandal that we don't know about?

  53. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    SOS Gant, i meant to say, is in on the party line to exclude voters. See the power of a SOS in the Kansas example of trying to keep a confusing ballot after a dem withdrew despite the courts ruling. The SOS has a 100 person law firm (Attorney General) financed by the state to obstruct elections in every red state, potentially.

    ALRIGHT! i meant to say concerning ed schultz and MSNBC covering this story. while he was slow in resisting KXL, he went to NE and changed his stance. CORY, HOOKUP WITH ED. SHOW HIM THE ROPES. THIS IS BIG STUFF!! MSNBC's Kornackie has already interviewed pressler and Rachel Maddow knows how to take down a former governor!

    go rick, go susan, go corrina, go robin, go ritchie ect. the "calvary" (i use this term very gently here in deference to our Lakota brothers and sisters.) might be coming.

    Tell him about the black hills, black elk peak, ect.; we have some good stories that demand national coverage!

  54. Jim 2014.10.02

    Owen, I believe Skjongsberg went on to say the state gets sued on average a little over 100 times a year so mike couldn't possible be aware of every suit. I suspect the vast amount of these suits are from inmates with nothing better to do, and which go nowhere. Probably not very often we get sued on something eb5. Very different. I said last November, mike has two choices:). Admit complicity or appear incompetent. His handlers have decided there is less risk, having him smile and appear stupid. I have no doubt he knew what was going on, and whom of his fat friends were getting fatter on the deal. I further suspect benda wasn't happy about his cut. Cory, wasnt SDRC paying Benda's salary? If so, how does NBP explain diverting the 550k to pay SDRC employee salary. I suppose it could have been something Joop and sveen cooked up when creating all their "non banks" to lend money.

  55. lesliengland 2014.10.02

    Daugaard's criminal justice "reform", an election ploy leaves "many inmates with nothing to do but sue the state" because addiction, a primary motivator of crime is NOT adressed in any successful way.

    Jackley's 24/7 is known to be a joke internally yet gets ignorant national acclaim, and with a non-violent inmate's life being senseless drained away by prosecutors only accountable to MADD and the prevailing stigma of addiction, they are not rehabilitated in any shape or form of modern science-based, medical care and are rather being warehoused at phenomenal tax payer cost by legislators, a court system, public defenders and others that are all about appearances and not about progress.

    inmates are left as empty shells unable to cope with the costs and consequences of their prosecution. very few are dangerous to society.

    my little rant!

  56. owen reitzel 2014.10.02

    I agree with you Jim. Something this big he would have know about and like you said if he didn't he's incompetent and shouldn't be in the Senate.
    Good question as well Roger. How many lawsuits are there out there related to EB-5?

  57. grudznick 2014.10.02

    Mr. Fleming, somewhat related to the Rounds/Weiland tilt that has everybody's undies all bunched up over this goofy E-B5 business that nobody understands, I have a question. I am watching a football game on a TV and they keep showing Mr. Weiland commercials. I understood he could "only afford" big dark money or not, 15 seconds ads. So he has 15 second ads. That's nice.

    But then why does he basically run 2 15 second ads back to back burning up 30 seconds anyway and being redundant and more annoying than ever? Wouldn't it be better if he could come up with more meaningful content in a 30 second ad and run it once and not annoy the viewers, or is this the approach like having an annoying jingle that even if they hate it they are at least remembering it, like the cartoon bald guy who plunges toilets.

  58. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    I hope you choke on your gravy taters, grud: answer your question?

  59. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    it's so gratifying when the other shoe drops on SDGOP when its inserted in his mouth.

  60. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    an apostrophe is a terrible thang to waste.

  61. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    Hey grudz,
    Saw you over on the dump site supporting Rounds' and his crony capitalism corruption and yet you come to a respectable site like Madville and say otherwise.
    Your gravy and taters are cute sometimes, but the Rounds Scandal has moved beyond cute.
    As Wayne Gilbert says, no respectable Republican should support Mike Rounds and that if Rounds had any integrity at all, he would drop out of the Race tomorrow. It is only going to get worse for him now that Seth Tupper of the Journal has a credible source.

  62. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    what do you make of kathryn johnson, grud?

  63. larry kurtz 2014.10.02

    grud: have you noticed that regent emerita kathryn johnson and her significant other doyle estes both gave four large to DD and that both are Future Fund recipients? what do you make of that?

  64. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    grudznick, I have a hunch that you know exactly what "bookending" is and why advertisers do it. In fact, grudz, I invite you to expound on it a little here, starting with what a GRP is.

    Someday, I might write a little bit about how good media strategies work and why I think what the Weiland camp has been doing is nearly perfect, but not today, grudznick. Not today.

  65. Rich 2014.10.02

    grudz, over on Patty Ps Press Release Repository, you stated 'I’m E-B5ed out.' So what are you doing back here talking about it?

  66. Bill Fleming 2014.10.02

    Rich, grudz is the slickest troll in the business. Go good people hardly know he's doing it. LOL.

  67. JeniW 2014.10.02

    grudz, do you know how advertisements are sold?

    Advertisements are sold by time slots and packages. The most expensive are ads ran during "prime time," and at set times. The least expensive are ads bought in the "bargain" rate package. The bargain rate advertisements are those that are shown whenever there is an open space.

    Sometimes that ad could be ran during prime time, sometimes back-to-back, sometimes in the dead of night when most people are not watching TV. Those ads are ran at a time determined by the station, not the candidate.

  68. Joe 2014.10.02

    If anyone from the Weiland campaign is on here, please take your camera and go find contractors and vendors who lost money because of one of the EB-5 companies going broke.

    You have Rounds caught, you are making strides, now connect it to the people, by showing, real people from SD were hurt with these programs. Especially since Rounds was touting them as state programs.

    As for the situation, why don't we just say what it is, he lied. Ok, if this was a democrat, I can guarantee the papers would be using the word lie.

    How he's handled himself, makes me question him as a Senator more then him supporting EB-5 itself.

    It was all everyone else's fault, and I don't know anything, what I did know I didn't know until later, and other people said it didn't matter, there is not conspiracy, just making stuff up.

    I'm to a point (and I wouldn't have said this a week ago) that I don't think there is a conspiracy. I just think Rounds didn't have a clue what was going on at the time, he was too busy flying around and who knows what else.

    Actually wait, I know people who were close to Rounds, there was definitely something fishy going on.

  69. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.02

    Joe,
    If you know of anyone that was financially impacted by the Rounds Scandal, have them get in touch with Cory. I bet he would listen to them.
    You're right Joe, it is time for the personal stories

  70. Jane Smith 2014.10.03

    Proof of service states Rounds assistant given the documents. Is he going to accuse Nyla of withholding info from him? He is going to claim chummy photo with Bollen tourist photoshopped souvenirs?
    Grandpa Don may have been fooled, news flash, the educated public not so gullible.

  71. Joseph.Voigt 2014.10.03

    I don't know of anyone specific, I no longer live in SD, and when I did I didn't live near any EB-5 projects.

    But the bankruptcy proceedings should be public somewhere and a campaign/party should be able to find a couple that lost a significant amount and who are willing to film an ad.

    Remember Mitt Romney, no one thought Bain would be anything until you put faces to the name, then it hits home.

  72. Jana 2014.10.03

    The Rounds Daugaard game of hide-and-seek should be enough to have anyone thinking that where there's smoke there's fire.

    Rounds had more than enough opportunity to put all the cards on the table, but instead chose to deflect and hide behind his old man.

    Daugaard has had the chance to disclose things that citizens choosing their leader deserve to know, but has chosen to hide behind the skirt of 'we don't want to interfere with a federal investigation...even though the feds weren't asking for that.

    Come clean boys or step out. The Gov and former Gov are both young enough to run again someday after the truth comes out. If they are both clean, then they should have that chance.

    But if there's any shadow of a doubt that they are culpable in this fraud, then they need to get out of the race in respect of the people of South Dakota...and if not, then the people of South Dakota need to say thanks, but no thanks.

    It's time to take back South Dakota from the incestuous one party rule that breeds the opportunity for this type of corruption.

  73. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.05

    No matter how many times the state is sued, doesn't it behoove a governor to read the service papers, find out why the state is being sued, then call the agency drawing the suit (or send over Dusty or Tony) to ask what the heck is going on? Sure, some lawsuits are frivolous and not worth the Governor's attention, but shouldn't the Governor go ask questions to make sure something isn't broken?

    And wouldn't the Governor be all the more interested in inquiring about a lawsuit if it was connected to one of his primary legacy projects (in this case, funding for Northern Beef Packers)?

  74. mike from iowa 2014.10.05

    A competent governor would.

Comments are closed.