Connecting the dots on this investigation is going to be interesting, while the parties involved are trying to separate themselves from each other. Many media outlets and blogs (except Dakota War College) have covered many details on the case, but until the Federal investigators release their findings, these quagmires exist;
1) Benda is dead. Did he commit suicide, was he accidentally shot or murdered? Who did it?
2) Governor Rounds led a very secretive, tight-knit, state government, he is now running for Senate with challengers in his in own party, how will this affect is bid for senate if he is found guilty of wrong doing? And why did the State GOP chair give such a large donation to his opponent Larry Rhoden? Remember, Craig Lawrence was co-founder of L & S, one of the state’s most prestigious ad agencies who basked in the state tourism contracts to the tune of millions each year during the Rounds years. Why the sudden change of heart, Craig?
3) What was the current governors involvement in all this? He seems to be distancing himself from Rounds, as his spokesman last night on KELO said that ‘Dennis is more transparent then Rounds was when it comes to economic development (sic)’ This is also strange that Dennis is quickly distancing himself from Rounds, remember Rounds bailed Dennis’ ass out on a couple of occasions (Millions in state contracts when he ran Children’s Home Society, and the Mette Indian case cover up.)
4) Which brings us to AG Jackley, what was his involvement? He obviously worked closely with Dennis and Rounds. He’s the state’s lead attorney with many tentacles and connections.
5) Then there is the SOS of state debacle, Gant throwing in the towel and Shantel Krebs stepping in. Who is Rounds communications director? None other then Mitch Krebs, Shantel’s husband.
6) And lastly, why so much infusion of money from the Chinese and Koreans?
Lots of dots, lots of tentacles, lots of secrets, lots of deception. I have a feeling this is going to get very messy, very soon.
Is kind of embarrassing to watch the state launch its own investigations into these matters, just as soon as the news gets out that the feds are investigating.
In my opinion, this current crowd, which appears to be in trouble, is apparently not as smart and intimidating as their predecessor…..
Also, if this ties in with the current governor, how will it affect his race.
I find it interesting how in the October 19 listening and learning session the mayor told a resident that he didn’t know when he would announce running for mayor. See, Huether has until January to make a decision about whether he wants to run for governor. If this investigation blows up in Doogood’s face, don’t rule Huether out for a governor run. I just find it very strange he hasn’t formally announced he is running for mayor.
Oh, my goodness, what should have been a cake walk for the SD GOP in 2014 is beginning to appear to be breaking for the SD Democrats in way we have not seen since 1970 and the emergence of the Kneip era…. But like a third string cornerback catching an interception, do the Democrats know what to do with this and do they know which end zone to run too?…… Time will tell…..
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
This is truly the kinetic energy which perpetuates our two party system…. Keep hope alive!
Oh, for comic relief, I placed a post on multiple DWC blog pieces about this emerging scandal. I wrote them in the context of “Breaking News” from Radio Free Europe about it…. I am sad to report that the fine people of DWC deleted them all, however……..Imagine that?…..
Tremendous analysis. Consider adding to it:
-whether Rounds or anyone else involved or implied has heightened personal security since the Benda death. If so, who, its scope, who’s paying for it, and why was it deemed appropriate?
-whether Jackley’s office ‘investigating’ is a conflict of interest due to that office’s duty to provide legal advice to the governor and state agencies such as GOED. Sooner or later that office may have to face the questions of whether it was allegedly negligent then . . . or now, had alleged conflicts then . . . or now, was allegedly covering up then . . . or now.
Let’s hope the news and bloggers investigating are carpet bombing with Freedom of Information Act requests since the NBP involved public federal and state money. ‘Ongoing investigation’ be damned when it comes to collecting the historic, background information that a watchdog media (and legislature) should have had in the course of business.
By the time the election rolls around, people and the media will have forgotten all about this. Just ask Dave Munson.
“whether Jackley’s office ‘investigating’ is a conflict of interest due to that office’s duty to provide legal advice to the governor and state agencies such as GOED.”
And what is Jackley in charge of? The DCI.
With so many ‘foreign’ investors . . . who knows what might have happened to Benda.
“By the time the election rolls around, people and the media will have forgotten all about this. Just ask Dave Munson.”
Well, if Rounds is sitting in a Federal Prison, the election won’t really matter to him? Will it? And peeps get on Johnson for serving in a wheelchair. How about from a jail cell.