Sue Falls, SD (AP) — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem jumped on the list of conservative politicians backed by former President Donald Trump with her libertarian approach to pandemics. As the virus is declining, she may be trying to stay there by choosing some legal battles to please her rights.
For the past few weeks, gnomes have been Went to court To challenge President Joe Biden’s administration, which launched fireworks on Mount Rushmore to prevent the celebration of Independence Day. She also participated in several state lawsuits against the administration over climate change regulation, one of the only plaintiffs not coming from a state that relies heavily on fossil fuels.
Nome says she is acting solely for the benefit of the state, but tactics have given her the opportunity to cast herself as one of Biden’s most prominent enemies. She went to Fox News, announced a proceeding over Mount Rushmore fireworks, and later joined star host Sean Hanity to create a podcast titled “Gnome vs. Biden.”
Nome tells Hannity that the only way to “fairly deal with this issue” is to sue the Biden administration, not only in South Dakota, but also in the ability to celebrate our independence like our country and our founders. It was to throw it as a fight for. ” “
Instead of entrusting the proceedings to the Attorney General, Nome filed the proceedings himself, using the state’s statutory fund, which has been historically used to protect himself from the proceedings. The gnome usually plays the role of the Attorney General. She is the only governor listed alongside the Attorney Generals in nine other states in climate proceedings. In the Mount Rushmore proceeding, Nome is backed by the Republican Attorney General in 16 other states.
By leading the state’s legal affairs, Nome participated in a recent seesaw court battle between a powerful president and a state dominated by opposition parties. From California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom to Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, members of both parties have used legal strategies to seize the country’s hot button issue.
However, proceeding from the Governor’s Office is a new strategy for Nome, which has been criticized by other South Dakota Republicans.
Former Speaker of the House Steve Howgo, who sparred with the Governor, gave little chance of winning the proceedings on Mount Rushmore in court. The National Park Service, which manages the monument, cited the danger of fire and possible opposition from local Native American tribes by rejecting the state’s application to host this year’s fireworks.
“If the results are a natural conclusion, there is a better use of those funds,” he said, adding that “resources should not be used for personal attention.”
Nome hired Consoboy McCarthy, the Washington-region law firm best known for fending off efforts to investigate his financial records on behalf of Trump. Gnome spokesman Ian Fury said the company was chosen for its “expertise.” According to Fury, the deal is capped at $ 150,000, with the state paying partners $ 600 an hour and associates $ 450 an hour. Biden’s multilateral proceedings over the climate change order should be “minimal.”
Fury explained that she had filed a proceeding in Rushmore as Nome pushed Mount Rushmore to return the fireworks celebration. The government says the monument is of great attraction to South Dakota’s second-largest job provider, the state’s tourism industry.
Last year, Nome found an ally with then-President Trump. President Trump paved the way for fireworks in Rushmore, despite long-standing concerns about the dangers of fire. Trump joined Nome at the event on July 3rd, posted a photo of Nome online with the President, and took a seat at Air Force One after the event.
Sioux Falls business consultant and Republican Trey Jones said the proceedings in Nome were okay because of the importance of the monument.
“A bad decision was made objectively for my state,” Jones said the government was blocking fireworks.
Paul Nolette, a professor of political science at Marquette University and studying the Attorney General, said it was unusual for the governor to represent the state in a lawsuit against the federal government. He attributed the move to Nome’s national ambitions, but also in a rift with state Republican Attorney General Jason Lawnsborg, who was charged with killing a pedestrian last year.
Nome asked Lawnsborg to resign. He refused, saying he could still carry out his office duties. But he keeps it unobtrusive.
Nome revealed that she was not hindered by the Attorney General’s silence. Courting a national profile has frequently been a Fox News guest over the past year for a practical approach to managing a coronavirus pandemic without the need for masks and without imposing significant restrictions. Now Noem’s priority. Nome also traveled the country to perform in conservative events such as political fundraising and CPAC, campaigning on behalf of Trump and the Republican Senator.
Even some South Dakotas who enjoyed the fireworks on Mount Rushmore said they were watching over whether Nome’s proceedings could withstand judicial review.
Linda Johnson, an independent voter in Sioux Falls who considers herself “financially conservative,” warned the governor that Nome had no problem fighting for fireworks.
“She must own the results of every battle that takes taxpayers,” she said.