The President of a Washington foundation called Attorney General Jackley’s pursuit of Annette Bosworth “Draconian”.

Paul Jacobs, of Citizens in Charge said he could find no other case in America with such heavy-handed prosecution, according to the Argus Leader report.

Really???  That’s what South Dakotans have been saying for some time.  The potential of 24 years in prison, $48,000 in fines and the loss of her license to practice medicine.  All this for what most people view as a minor infraction of petition law.  The 37 signatures at the center of this controversy were all legitimate, registered voters.  They each signed of their own free will.  The Bosworth “crime” is that she followed the advice of her legal council and verified that, as the circulator of the petition, she had witnessed each of these people signing.  She was apparently not present when they actually signed the petition, a practice commonly used by many other politicians at events like Lincoln Day Dinners and other political events.

So why the seemingly obvious overkill on prosecuting Bosworth?  It is a question Attorney General Jackley prefers to deflect.  When asked, he says he believes Bosworth has been treated very fair.  One might question Jackley’s definition of ‘fair’.  He is very aware that if he is able to achieve a conviction on a felony, Bosworth will lose her license to practice medicine.  Fair?  Just?  Reasonable?

Bosworth charges should be reduced to misdemeanors, and Jackley should get on with more important business.

***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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