SD Freedom Caucus Releases Scathing Statement on Behalf of Citizens
October 03, 2022 By Breeauna Sagdal
In a press release issued Monday October 03, 2022, Representative Tina Mulally (R-Rapid City), of
South Dakota's Freedom Caucus released a scathing demand for transparency from current Secretary of State, Steve Barnett. Barnett,
who was recently found to be seeking employment out-of-state after
losing the Republican party nomination during this year's SDGOP Convention, has now been caught misleading South Dakota Citizens.
After receiving a Freedom of Information Act Request from Hartford resident Cindy Meyer, seeking the state's purchase order and agreement with ESS (Elections Systems and Software), Barnett responded “the Secretary of State’s office does not have any contracts with Elections Systems & Software (ES&S).”
Upon further investigation, and a court order compelling access to elections records, documents revealed that Barnett had in fact
signed a purchase agreement with ES&S on October 10, 2019.
The
Freedom Caucus is now demanding full transparency and cooperation on behalf of the voters of South Dakota.
Rep. Mulally also alleges that the SD Freedom Caucus, comprised of elected members of the State's House of Representatives, "has faced numerous attempts to suppress their investigation into the matter, including
threats of exorbitant fees,
legally questionable fees, [and] or intimidation on the part of State Attorneys."
Rep. Mulally states that "the South Dakota Freedom Caucus will not be threatened or intimidated," and goes on to conclude that these alleged threats will not stop their investigative efforts on behalf of South Dakota's citizens.
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--Breeauna Sagdal- Editor At Large| Post Date: 2022-10-03 08:13:02 | Last Update: 2022-10-05 11:03:27 |
