Former South Dakota Constitution Party member arrested as Jan 6 rioter who refused to leave US Capitol.

Looks like Federal Law Enforcement snagged another US Capitol insurrectionist from South Dakota. From KELOland:

A Sioux Falls woman has been charged for her participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol in Washington D.C., according to the U.S. District Court.

Amy Rebekah Willis was among the rioters inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, court documents said. “Willis and the other rioters in the Crypt portion of the Capitol surged forward breaching the USCP police line and forcing the officers to retreat,” a court document said.

At one point, Willis physically resisted being removed from the building by law officers, according to court documents.

Read the entire story here.

While she’s current registered Republican, Amy wasn’t always so. In fact, at one time she used to be involved with the the South Dakota Constitution Party before Lora Hubbel broke it, as she explains in her goofball antivaxxer website at “unmaskthetruthsd.org

Amy Willis served with the Constitution Party of SD during 2004-2009. She fought actively to preserve our freedoms and limit the government to the “chains of the Constitution”.Amy also is a Master Herbalist and certified Naturopath. She owns a small business in Sioux Falls and has been serving the community for nine years now. Amy and her husband have three grown sons, and one daughter still living at home. Seeing the usurpation of our Freedoms in 2020, Amy and other patriots decided to take Action. Amy’s love for Freedom, Truth, and our Constitution is compelling.

Read that here.

When she talks about fighting to preserve our freedoms, I somehow don’t think people were looking for her to go fight the capitol police..

Attorney General Jackley Announces Indictment For $1.8 million Employee Theft from Child Protection Services

Attorney General Jackley Announces Indictment For $1.8 million Employee Theft from Child Protection Services

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a former state Department of Social Services employee has been indicted for stealing an estimated $1.8 million in state and federal funds from the department’s Child Protection Services.

Lonna Carroll, 68, of Algona, IA is charged with two felony counts of Aggravated Grand Theft. She was arrested Wednesday in Iowa and is awaiting extradition to South Dakota. Bond has been set at $50,000.

Carroll is accused of taking the money while an employee for the department’s Child Protection Services program, where she had control of the funds. The thefts occurred between 2010 and 2023.

 “Citizens expect government agencies and employees to safeguard public funds.  Based upon our investigation, criminal charges for grand theft have been filed, and an arrest has been made,” said Attorney General Jackley. “I appreciate the cooperation of Governor Noem and the Department of Social Services throughout this investigation.”

Attorney General Jackley said the thefts were discovered by the Department of Social Services. The state Division of Criminal Investigation and Legislative Audit led the investigation.

An initial court appearance for Carroll has not yet been scheduled in Hughes County Circuit Court in Pierre. The maximum sentence for Count One is 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The maximum sentence for Count Two is 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. She is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

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Rounds, Hagerty, Colleagues Demand Answers on DOJ’s Lack of Prosecutions of Non-Citizens Registering to Vote

Rounds, Hagerty, Colleagues Demand Answers on DOJ’s Lack of Prosecutions of Non-Citizens Registering to Vote

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) recently joined his colleagues Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Representative Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) in demanding answers from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to enforce the laws that protect the integrity of U.S. elections.

“As you are likely aware, the United States has experienced a record number of border encounters since President Biden took office—nearly 10 million—many of whom have been released into, or evaded apprehension while entering, the U.S.,” wrote the members. “We’re writing to inquire regarding the efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce the law that prohibits non-citizens from voting in our elections.”

“Plainly, there are opportunities for and instances of non-citizen voter registration, and so the critical question is whether the laws against doing so are being enforced by your Department,” continued the members. “There appear to have been few prosecutions by your Department under these laws, and there is no indication that you have been pursuing cases in places like Georgia and Ohio where aliens have been caught registering or voting.”

Rounds, Hagerty and Biggs were joined on this letter by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio), along with 41 members of the House of Representatives.

The members are requesting information on the number of non-citizens attempting to vote who have been charged, tried or convicted, as well as additional information on the DOJ’s protocols regarding non-citizens attempting to vote.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

+++

Dear Attorney General Garland:

As you are likely aware, the United States has experienced a record number of border encounters since President Biden took office—nearly 10 million—many of whom have been released into, or evaded apprehension while entering, the U.S. We’re writing to inquire regarding the efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce the law that prohibits non-citizens from voting in our elections.

Several recent reports have described, upon examination by state officials, instances of non-citizens registering to vote in elections or being prompted to do so. For example, the Governor of South Carolina recently called for an investigation after it was revealed that voter registration forms were allegedly given to non-citizens. Similarly, in 2022, the Georgia Secretary of State found that more than 1,600 non-citizens had attempted to register to vote in Georgia. And Ohio’s Secretary of State called for increased verification efforts by county election officials after non-citizens were found on state voter rolls.

These reports are especially concerning given the record-shattering number of illegal aliens entering the United States and certain state and local laws that permit aliens to vote in local elections.

As you are aware, federal law prohibits aliens from voting or registering to vote in federal elections. For example, 18 U.S.C. § 611 prohibits aliens from voting in federal elections. Additionally, 52 U.S.C. § 20511 makes it unlawful to fraudulently register or vote. And 18 U.S.C. § 911 prohibits making a false claim of U.S. citizenship.

Plainly, there are opportunities for and instances of non-citizen voter registration, and so the critical question is whether the laws against doing so are being enforced by your Department. There appear to have been few prosecutions by your Department under these laws, and there is no indication that you have been pursuing cases in places like Georgia and Ohio where aliens have been caught registering or voting. Nor is there any indication that you have taken steps to obtain information from the Department of Homeland Security regarding aliens who admit that they have registered or voted in U.S. elections when completing the N-400, “Application for Naturalization.” Part 9 of that form specifically asks applicants that question.

Furthermore, there is no evidence that your U.S. Attorneys are using information obtained from jury lists in their cases to investigate aliens who may have violated federal law. It is our understanding that potential jurors for federal cases are obtained from state voter registration lists in many federal districts. This begs the question: Has an individual ever been excused from federal jury duty because they are not a U.S. citizen, and if so, does the Department address the fact that they are a registered voter?

To promote public trust regarding the steps your Department has taken to prosecute non-citizens for illegally voting or registering to vote in federal elections, please provide the following information no later than July 19, 2024:

1. Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.

2. Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.

3. Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.

4. Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.

5. How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?

6. What affirmative steps has the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?

7. What affirmative steps has the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?

8. What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible for prosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?

9. As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C. § 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?

Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt reply.

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How much did Life Defense Fund spend on effort to withdraw 21 petition signatures? Over $26 per signature, plus Rep. Jon Hansen’s dignity.

The Anti-Abortion movement is in the news again as it comes out on KELOland that after all their bluster and phone banking, they only managed to get 21 people to withdraw their signatures from the ballot:

In the four months since a new South Dakota law took effect allowing registered voters to withdraw their signatures from initiated ballot measures, there hasn’t been a rush to use it.

The South Dakota Secretary of State office has received 21 of those requests through mid-July, according to state elections division director Rachel Soulek.

She said all 21 requests came from registered voters who had signed their names to petitions for an initiated amendment that would place abortion rights in the South Dakota Constitution.

After the petitions were sample-tested to determine whether they met the legal minimum of 35,017 valid signatures, Secretary of State Monae Johnson validated the measure to be on the 2024 general election ballot.

Read that entire story here.

After all their fuss and folderol, and at one time being labeled a ‘scam’ by the Secretary of State, they only managed to withdraw 21 signatures?

How much did they spend on those 21 signatures? It’s hard to say.

The “Petition Integrity PAC” Chaired by Life Defense Fund co-chair Jon Hansen claims it had $546.72 in donated “telephones” from the Life Defense Fund. It doesn’t mention anything about the other costs, such as people to run them, etc., but they are clearly operating hand-in-hand with the Defense Fund, which after similarly failing to get people to not sign the petitions, failed at this effort as well.

Petition Integrity Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

If we’re only looking at the expenditures by this PAC (which probably should have been a ballot question committee), expenses clocked in at $26.03 per signature withdrawn. That’s kind of a high burn rate.

But, don’t forget that this petition signature withdrawal effort also cost State Representative Hansen the dignity of his office, since he had a disclosed conflict of interest in bringing the legislation to allow the attempt to pull signatures while being on the Life Defense Fund’s payroll.

Those are high expenses on both accounts for only managing 21 signatures.

Unable to prevent signatures from being put on the ballot. Unable to pull signatures off the ballot. Two strikes in quick succession.

If I were to guess, I would wager we’re going to see strike three from the Life Defense Fund in November.

Is Biden close to withdrawal from race? Calls to exit contest getting louder.

Spent a few minutes watching the AM news programs, and as former President Trump is gaining momentum at the GOP National Convention, the calls for President Biden to withdraw from the race keep getting louder and louder:

NBC News analyst Chuck Todd joked Wednesday that, like in the ghost movie “The Sixth Sense,” every Democrat knows that Biden’s re-election campaign is dead except the president himself.

and..

An AP-NORC survey released Wednesday found 65% of Democrats want Biden to withdraw from the presidential race with only 37% of Democrats satisfied with him as the nominee.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., also made headlines Wednesday after calling on Biden to leave the race, making him the 20th congressional Democrat to do so over the past month.

Read that story here.

And the calls keep getting louder..:

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi privately told President Joe Biden in a recent conversation that polling shows that the president cannot defeat Donald Trump and that Biden could destroy Democrats’ chances of winning the House in November if he continues seeking a second term, according to four sources briefed on the call.

The president responded by pushing back, telling Pelosi he has seen polls that indicate he can win, one source said. Another one of the sources described Biden as getting defensive about the polls.

Read that here.

..and louder, as reflected in a more recent report from ABC News..

According to multiple well-connected Democratic sources, President Joe Biden’s support from elected party leaders is crumbling.

and..

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer went to see Biden in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday. Shortly after the meeting, Schumer’s office put out a statement, saying only, “I sat with President Biden this afternoon in Delaware; we had a good meeting.”

and..

A knowledgeable source close to both men tells me Schumer had a blunt conversation with Biden, making the case it would be best if Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.

Read that story here.

When LBJ withdrew from the 1968 race, Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the nomination.. and George Wallace ran on a third party ticket against Republican Richard Nixon who was eventually elected.  However, LBJ’s announcement in 1968 over unrest caused by the Vietnam War came at the end of March. Fast forward 56 years later, and Biden may be set to withdraw because of his advanced age and withering mental acuity in July of the election year – much farther into the process than LBJ was.

It’s hard to see any scenario where this is good for Democrats.

Biden had gone off the air in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Trump. Now, we have President Biden further withdrawing from public view for several days because of COVID. And all of this is occurring with calls from his top Congressional leaders telling him he should leave the race, and it’s killing the down ticket contests.

We may be witness to history once again, just as our parents and grandparents were in 1968 with the complete upheaval of the Democrat presidential ticket at the time.

Attorney General Jackley Urges Congress To Support Safeguard American Voting Eligibility (“SAVE”) Act 

Attorney General Jackley Urges Congress To Support Safeguard American Voting Eligibility (“SAVE”) Act 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty has joined 21 other Attorneys General in urging Congress to support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (“SAVE”) Act.

The proposal would prohibit illegal immigrants from voting in elections. Under the Act, individuals would have to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

U.S. House of Representatives members approved the measure last week. It now goes to the U.S. Senate.

“This is a common-sense approach to protecting our elections,” said Attorney General Jackley. “The “SAVE” Act will increase Americans’ confidence in the security of our elections.”

Other Attorneys Generals who have signed the letter to Congressional leaders are from: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The letter can be found here.

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