Rep. Steve Hickey has been accused of the petition violations, which cost Bosworth 12 felony convictions.
Hickey, a SD State Representative and Pastor, has publicly denied the allegations. Hickey was one of the lead accusers of former US Senate Candidate, Annette Bosworth, who was recently convicted for the same violations Hickey is now accused of committing.
Now, in addition to written complaints against Hickey, the Attorney General has an affidavit verifying the accuracy of the charges against Hickey.
First, AG Jackley claimed he could not take action on the Hickey accusations because he “didn’t have a complaint”. Complaints were filed. Then, the AG said he “had not received the 
complaint” (our sources verified that his office HAD received the complaint). A complaint was RE-SENT to the AG. He then said he needed “evidence” before doing anything about the alleged Hickey violations. I spoke with the AG, who said he would consider an affidavit “evidence”. Now he has an affidavit.
The affidavit:
Rep. Hickey has resigned his seat in the Legislature. As of this date, no apparent action has been taken by the AG on the Hickey case.
You may recall that the AG launched an extensive investigation against Bosworth. Two top DCI officials were dispatched (in a “BROWN” Tahoe) along with other law enforcement officers to “interview” Bosworth petition signers. There was a significant investment of time and resources (tax dollars) in the Bosworth prosecution. Slow action or no action has been the response to the alleged Hickey violations.
I have been clear that these violations are commonplace, and certainly do not merit felony charges… not for Bosworth, not for Hickey, and not for anyone else. Despite his authority for prosecutorial discretion, the AG did not see fit to negotiate a deal with Bosworth which did not include felony charges. In his serious over-prosecution of Bosworth, Jackley has created his own nightmare. To maintain the “integrity” of his office and his position as Attorney General, Jackley must dispense EQUAL “justice”. Can Jackley now do anything other than pursue Hickey with felony charges?
I do not have any personal axe to grind with either Hickey or Jackley. I pray for them both, and do not wish them ill. They both attacked Bosworth with venom and viciousness. For that, they have some accountability.
Their chickens have now come home to roost.
***Gordon Howie is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***
“It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”
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So when are the charges going to be filed. Leaving the country is not going to get Jackley or Hickey off the hook.
….and when this story slows down the AG could look into how all the constitutional offices were filled on the Republican side. IMO they were illegally filled and all constitutional primary ballot winners filed “a false instrument” (SDCL 22-11-28.1 – the one Bosworth was condemned by) when they declared themselves candidates for office.
The republicans conducting the convention flaunted their power (even changed votes so Common Core would not get a black eye) and totally ignored the bylaws which are under-girthed in Statute. When they defy their own bylaws, they are essentially breaking the law. Busloads of illegal “voters” were brought in to the Republican Convention, stayed for about an hour to vote on constitutional offices (SOS, AG, etc., who then were placed on the November ballot) then they left the convention. Our Bylaws say they must be registered in the SOS office 45 DAYS BEFORE they are allowed to vote at the convention. This was a bylaw so those voting would themselves be vetted, making sure they really were Republicans living in the correct precinct…AND so they could vet the candidates before they voted for them. Plus with the 45 day law, the candidates knew who they had to appeal to in order to win over their vote.
The Republican party knows they can skirt or inflict ANY “law” because there is no balance of power in this state. Absolute power corrupts absolutely….SD is shining example of that.
If we keep allowing this to happen it will only get worse and many people will fall victim to this corruption.