Whatever chances Gov. Kristi Noem ever had at being the GOP nominee for president were officially killed this week.
South Dakota lawmakers have unanimously approved a five-page report that says Noem acted inappropriately when she intervened to help get her mediocre daughter’s real estate career off the ground.
The vehemently anti-LGBTQ governor is accused of engaging in nepotism and abusing her power when she got her daughter Kassidy certified as a state real estate appraiser through the Department of Labor and Regulation in 2020 after her application was initially denied.
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According to the report, the 25-year-old hadn’t completed all the required training before applying for her appraiser’s license. But rather than telling her daughter she needed to meet all the criteria, Noem tried to pressure the head of the appraiser program, Sherry Bren, into removing the training requirement just for Kassidy.
When Bren still denied the application, Noem called her to the governor’s mansion and demanded specific examples of what Kassidy had done wrong. Kassidy eventually got her appraiser’s license and Bren was forced to retire. She later sued for and won a $200,000 settlement for wrongful termination and Kassidy has since moved on from working in real estate.
Related: Kristi Noem continues her tireless crusade to spread hate and bigotry across the land
Incredibly, the five-page report was adopted unanimously by the GOP-controlled, 10-member panel, which means even Noem’s loyal Republican colleagues think she messed up. A subsequent investigation into the allegations is currently being conducted by the Government Accountability Board.
“I’m hopeful that the Government Accountability Board will use this as a worthwhile tool in there deliberations,” state Rep. Randy Gross, who co-chairs the Government Audit and Operations Committee, tells the Argus Leader.
Related: Kristi Noem spotted with Corey Lewandowski (again) after fiercely denying affair rumors months ago
Gross, who is a Republican, said the report paints an “accurate picture of what occurred” though he stopped short of saying whether he thought it was damning for the administration.
(Spoiler: It sure is!)
Despite the report’s findings, Noem, who is currently running for reelection in South Dakota and is also rumored to be considering a 2024 bid for president, put out a statement insisting neither she nor her administration did anything wrong in its handling for Kassidy’s appraisal certification.
Here’s what Twitter has to say about the whole thing…
A special legislative committee investigating allegations into nepotism in South Dakota’s appraisal program found Gov. Kristi Noem’s daughter received preferential treatment in obtaining her appraisal license, according to a new report. https://t.co/EHAO8d3N7M
— Dakota News Now (@dakotanews_now) May 17, 2022
Like no one saw this coming.
— bill (@bill28662641) May 17, 2022
Mom, I didn’t pass the test…Don’t worry, sweetie, I’ll take care of that for you.
— Rita Swartz (@buckleyswartz) May 18, 2022
So…this year’s GOP Christmas party will be a bit awkward.
— Citizen – Veteran – Progressive 🇺🇸⚾️ (@markkinney520) May 19, 2022
Kristi Noem is getting the Cawthorn treatment in the press ?
— Humphrey Bogarts hungover pissed off ghost (@Robertsixto2) May 19, 2022
But she denies it. Damn liberal news.
— recreate2000 (@recreate2000) May 19, 2022
Well, trump lowered the bar on nepotism….everyone ought to try and push the limits now.
— Kevin Loves Bacon (@kdvector) May 18, 2022
One would think white privilege, power and resources would be enough in a rigged system. HA! They still need extra advantage. Obviously Kristi Noem didn’t take Jared Kushner’s crash course in nepotism. 🙃
— Tammy Lynn (@tb_tlm) May 19, 2022
And…….. what will happen to Kristi? Absolutely nothing, right?
— BJSnaz (@SnazBj) May 19, 2022
GOP doesn’t care they will just bring up Hillary Clinton’s email or Hunter because that’s all they can dream up.
— Jim (@605Jim) May 19, 2022
You can’t hurt or humiliate me. My governor is Kristi Noem.
— Sezuko Smith, Mae’s Secret GF (@MagisterGf) May 18, 2022
Fahd
If Noem were male, I think the Republican old boy network would have closed ranks to protect her. But instead, Noem’s public rebuff, however appropriate and deserved, shows Republican sexism in action. No surprise, since the Republican party proposes that women should not be permitted to make their own decisions about their own bodies.
Btw, regarding the author’s premise here, since when did the Governor of South Dakota ever have a chance to become president?
Essie
Whether she has a chance or not, she had already set of a “committee” for 2024 and has raised a lot of money. Why do you think she was all over the news when stuff like Covid and abortion came up? To raise her national profile. She’s a clone of the Dumpster. Her plan is/was to run for President and then accept the Vice-President position. Some media people are calling her the “next Sarah Palin” though I don’t know how that would help her.
IanHunter
This probably happens all of the time. She must have a lot of Repubs that dislike her for them to condemn her.
missvamp
One less nutbag on the ballot. Maybe this will ruin any chance of re-election too. That state deserves better. Just like Florida, Texas & many others.
handy6924868
I learned many years ago, and it still holds true: You can’t fix stupid!