PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — The South Dakota Senate Select Committee on Discipline and Expulsion had its first meeting Monday evening, taking an oath and setting up procedures. The meeting lasted just over seven minutes.
The committee will hear testimony about a complaint filed against Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller by a Legislative Research Council staffer last week.
Republican Sen. David Wheeler from Huron, the committee’s chair, said he hoped to balance the due process rights of Sen. Frye-Mueller, the privacy rights of the employee bringing the complaint, thoroughness, speediness, and the reputation of the Senate. Committee members had to take an additional oath that they would act impartially.
The hearings will be open to the public except when the state employee testifies. Then, only the employee, their counsel, Sen. Frye-Mueller, their counsel, and any Senator will meet in executive session.
Sen. Wheeler said the committee would issue a redacted transcript of such a hearing. He also said a redacted copy of the complaint and other documents would be open to the public on the LRC website.
The select committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. (CT).
A copy of the complaint against Frye-Mueller is shown below.
