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Official says law officers acted properly in Klaudt case
Law officers acted properly in the investigation of a former state lawmaker who was eventually convicted of raping two of his foster daughters, South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long said Monday.
In a meeting with a legislative committee, Long denied allegations that officers delayed arresting or charging former Rep. Ted Klaudt of Walker because of political considerations.
When the Legislature’s State-Tribal Relations Committee held a meeting in Mobridge in October, an attorney for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe asked why the investigation and indictment of Klaudt did not become public until after the 2006 election. Tribal Attorney Steve Emery told the panel that American Indians are treated far differently when they are accused of crimes. …
Long said law officers learned in January 2007 that allegations about Klaudt first arose in March 2006 when a foster daughter told a friend whose mother notified state Social Services Department officials. When Social Services officials talked to the girl, she said she had made up the allegations against Klaudt.
“Because of the denial, the investigation pretty much ended at that point,” Long said.
The girl later said “part of the reason she had lied was Ted threatened her if she did tell the truth,” Long said. …
Some members of the State-Tribal Relations Committee asked Monday why the Klaudt case was being discussed by the panel, which deals with economic development, education and other issues involving cooperation between state and tribal government. …
Questions about the Klaudt case also included allegations the investigation might have been delayed until after the 2006 election, in which Klaudt was defeated in an attempt to win a Senate seat. …
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