Kristi Noem blasts 'total garbage' rumors amid nepotism review and affair allegations
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem denied what she described as "total garbage" and untrue rumors on Wednesday.
The Republican, widely seen as a possible 2024 White House contender, spoke out amid a hectic 24-hour period in which South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced he is reviewing nepotism concerns from state lawmakers about a meeting between Noem and her daughter last year, as well as a report detailing allegations that the governor is having an extramarital affair with Trump confidant Corey Lewandowski. Her tweet did not directly address any of the burgeoning controversies.
"These rumors are total garbage and a disgusting lie. These old, tired attacks on conservative women are based on a falsehood that we can't achieve anything without a man's help," Noem said.
These rumors are total garbage and a disgusting lie. These old, tired attacks on conservative women are based on a falsehood that we can't achieve anything without a man's help.
I love Bryon. I'm proud of the God-fearing family we've raised together. Now I'm getting back to work— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 29, 2021
Ravnsborg, also a Republican, is looking into a meeting last year between the governor and high-ranking state employees supervising the process for a real estate appraiser license sought by her daughter after he said "concerned state legislators" contacted him about it.
"I am actively reviewing their concerns and I will be following the steps prescribed in codified law in relation to those questions," the attorney general said on Tuesday.
In addition, state Rep. Linda Duba, a Democrat, sent an email to Republican state Sen. Kyle Schoenfish requesting that the Government Operations and Audit Committee he chairs look into what happened during the governor's meeting last year. The next committee meeting is slated for Oct. 27 and 28 in Pierre, according to Dakota News Now.
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On Wednesday, conservative website American Greatness cited sources who claimed Noem is having an extramarital affair with her informal adviser, Lewandowski, who was a campaign manager for then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016.
In the second part of Noem's tweet, she referenced her husband, Bryon Noem.
"I love Bryon. I'm proud of the God-fearing family we've raised together. Now I'm getting back to work," the governor said.
Lewandowski was separately named in a Politico report on Wednesday containing allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a female Trump donor, Trashelle Odom, at a Las Vegas charity event on Sept. 26, where Noem was also an attendee. "Accusations and rumors appear to be morphing by the minute and we will not dignify them with a further response," David Chesnoff, a Las Vegas attorney representing Lewandowski, told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
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The Washington Examiner contacted representatives for Noem, Duba, and Schoenfish and Ravnsborg's office for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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Tags: News, Kristi Noem, South Dakota, Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump, Governor, Republican
Original Author: Kaelan Deese
Original Location: Kristi Noem blasts 'total garbage' rumors amid nepotism review and affair allegations