A state senator has abandoned his previously announced plans to impeach South Dakota’s secretary of state. Sen. Stan Adelstein, R-Rapid City, has clashed publicly with Secretary of State Jason Gant for much of the past year, even requesting a criminal investigation of Gant, a Sioux Falls Republican. When that investigation by Attorney General Marty Jackley cleared Gant of any criminal wrongdoing, Adelstein said he was considering impeaching Gant instead. But now Adelstein says he’s given up on that plan. “I’m not going to fool with it any more,” Adelstein said. “If no one else cares, then why should I?”
The decision spares Gant from an extremely rare effort to impeach a state official, and also lets lawmakers avoid taking up the high-profile subject.
Legislative leaders of both parties said they were glad Adelstein isn’t pushing to impeach Gant this year.
“I’m glad we don’t have to face that,” said Rep. Bernie Hunhoff, the Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives. “We have a good, positive legislative session going on here.”
Full Article: State senator drops plans to impeach secretary of state | The Argus Leader | argusleader.com.