PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A Republican South Dakota state senator has had her committee assignments stripped in a rare punishment in the Legislature. The move to strip Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller of her seats on two legislative committees was announced during the Senate’s session on Wednesday. But legislative leaders in the Republican-controlled chamber refused to comment on what led to the move. Frye-Mueller is aligned with a group of contrarian, right-wing Statehouse Republicans. She has had the occasional run-ins with legislative leadership during her four terms between the House and Senate.