Frye-Mueller censured and reinstated to SD Senate

The South Dakota Senate Wednesday votes 33 to 1 to censure and reinstate Republican Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller of Rapid City.

She is also restricted in working with Legislative Research Council staff and legislative interns and pages for the remainder of the session.

An LRC employee filed a complaint over a conversation with Sen. Frye-Mueller and her husband Mike, a lobbyist, last week in the LRC offices. The employee felt harassed by the inappropriate discussion.

Senator Sen. David Wheeler of Watertown, the select committee chair, says the committee supported the employee’s version of events.

Following the vote, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, President of the Senate, asked the Sergeant at Arms to contact Sen. Frye-Mueller so she could return to the body.

February 2, 2023