A new ProPublica report alleges that former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem secretly earned $80,000 in 2023 through her private company, Ashwood Strategies LLC, formed during her second term. The payment reportedly came from the American Resolve Policy Fund, a nonprofit that supported her political career.
South Dakota’s minimal disclosure laws allowed Noem to keep the company’s existence private. Critics, including former GOP lawmaker Lee Schoenbeck, say the arrangement may have violated state ethics rules.
Noem allegedly failed to report the income when disclosing her finances after being tapped for the role of Secretary of Homeland Security, raising concerns about compliance with federal ethics requirements. Experts cited by ProPublica say the omission could be a violation.
The report also highlights that the donor-funded nonprofit is a dark money group, meaning the sources of its contributions remain undisclosed. When asked for clarification, Noem’s legal team did not respond with evidence supporting her claim of full transparency.
Comments