South Dakota AG facing charges in fatal crash celebrates Army Reserve promotion

Embattled South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg may be celebrating his U.S. Army Reserve promotion but many are outraged that he has received the esteemed honor in light of the charges he is facing for his alleged involvement in a fatal crash that occurred last year.

According to KELO-TV, Ravnsborg recently took to Facebook with an announcement about his new promotion. According to the top-ranking South Dakota official, who has served 24 years in the military, the promotion changes his rank to full colonel in U.S. Army Reserves.

With a photo of a full-bird symbol for an army colonel, Ravnsborg wrote, "Today—I was notified that I made the promotion list to full COLONEL in the Army Reserves. Only 34% of those eligible were promoted in the Army Reserves."

He added, "It is quite an honor and I have been proud to serve our great nation for over 24 years! through 3 deployments, Battalion Command, and 4 company commands serving with so many other great Americans! HOOAH!"

The promotion comes amid calls for Ravnsborg's resignation as he faces misdemeanor charges for the fatal crash that claimed the life of a man named Joe Beaver in September 2020. According to The Army Times, Ravnsborg's charges include "distracted driving and driving on the shoulder of the road."

Ravnsborg has declined calls for his resignation. His upcoming hearing is set for May 12.