KELOland is reporting that following today’s press conference with Attorney General Marty Jackley announcing the status of the Castleberry investigation over her business’ receipt of state monies, Senator Castleberry has announced her resignation from the South Dakota State Senate:
Minutes after the news conference ended, Castleberry, who represents District 35 in eastern Rapid City, announced her resignation.
“I formally resign from my position in the South Dakota Senate,” Castleberry said in an emailed statement. “I was humbled to be appointed and honored to be elected. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of the state of South Dakota.”
She said she is “glad speculation from other state departments and the executive branch regarding my ethics and intentions can be laid to rest.”
I think the Senator as attested to by the AG has been an open book and cooperated fully, but unfortunately with the wild west of COVID funds, had received advice that didn’t prove true, and made an honest mistake.
How many other legislators took money? Although not that much, but at any amount, they should also be reprimanded. Also maybe while they are at it, they should be checking out legislators who have contracts with state funded agencies and also who are on county commissions.
Not much has saddened me more in the past year than hearing this. Senator Castleberry was/is a supremely gifted speaker and rang people’s souls with her words.
Krusti Noem’s family took Covid money, why isn’t anyone talking about that? Noem is corrupt. Sad to lose Castleberry, all because Krusti’s ambitions and pettiness.
Those are the $64,000 questions: Why Castelberry? Why now? Who does Noem have waiting in the wings for District 35? I am sure either/all of Dakota Scout, SD News Watch, or SD Searchlight will pass along the answers soon enough.
“An honest mistake” – Geez, how many others can use that as a defense.
At least she had the self awareness to resign
I wouldn’t even call it a mistake. They received the funds in good faith based on the best advice they could get at the time. That was the story of COVID-era programs. I work for a very large institution that made tens of thousands of PPP loans, including over a hundred I did myself. We had the best legal, regulatory and governmental advice anyone in the nation could have and the error rate was still very high.
There are a few legislators who could learn from the example of this senator. Owning up to a mistake, taking responsibility and resigning shows character. I shouldn’t share the names of the dishonest politicians who ought to follow her lead, so I’ll just include their initials here: Julie Frye-Mueller and Gary Cammack.
If she followed the legal advice she was given, how is it solely her fault? I don’t care her politics, i ask that question for anyone. I know of one person who applied and hoped it would be approved so they could take a family vacation!
after the moatlike gerrymander of dist33, maybe someone who didn’t think they were eligible before is now actually eligible to put their hat in the ring for this. check that district map.