South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem posted a head-scratching video selling a beauty dentistry follow in Texas.
Now a member of the South Dakota Legislature is looking for an official inquiry into the Republican governor’s plug.
Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba advised each The Related Press and Dakota Information Now on Wednesday that he’s requested the Authorities Operations and Audit Committee, of which he’s a member, to debate Noem’s promotional content material at its subsequent assembly, which is in July.
“I simply thought it was a really unusual video about how a lot she loved having her enamel achieved at that specific place,” Nesiba advised the AP concerning the almost 5-minute, well-produced video of Noem’s expertise at Smile Texas.
In the video posted Monday to Noem’s account on X (previously Twitter), she talks concerning the Houston-area follow, names the dentists and says she’s “eternally grateful” to them.
“The group right here was outstanding and eventually gave me a smile that I may be happy with and assured in,” Noem, who’s being floated as a possible working mate for Donald Trump, says as clips of her getting therapy on the clinic play throughout the display and upbeat music performs.
“After they first confirmed me with a mirror my new enamel, I began to cry,” she says later.
The entire thing appeared odd to Nesiba, who needs the committee to discover the cash concerned in Noem’s video.
“Did the governor use public funds and/or the brand new state airplane to get to Texas?” he questioned aloud to Dakota Information Now. “Did she pay for this dental process or did she comply with star on this infomercial in partial or full fee of that? And if that’s the case, was this unethical or unlawful based mostly on South Dakota statute?”
He additionally questioned whether or not Noem’s video undermines investments South Dakotans have made in her to advertise their state or as a substitute serves to lift her nationwide profile.
Emails to Noem’s spokesperson asking these questions went unanswered.
State Rep. Ernie Otten, a Republican who chairs the Authorities Operations and Audit Committee, didn’t instantly reply to inquiries as as to if his committee will take up Nesiba’s request.
However Nesiba advised HuffPost on Friday that Otten advised him there may be “no foundation” for the committee to think about the matter.
“I’m disillusioned that Chair Otten takes so little curiosity on this matter that has raised so many questions and which has generated a lot nationwide consideration,” Nesiba stated in an electronic mail.
The committee assembly wouldn’t be till July, by which era presumptive GOP nominee Trump probably would have locked in a working mate.
Pushback on the Smile Texas video didn’t seem to discourage Noem from sharing extra promotional content material. On Thursday, she posted a quick video to X that marketed a footwear retailer, Match My Toes, which has 4 South Dakota areas and two within the Midwest.
“They’ve completely constructed me inserts for working, separate ones for my cowboy boots. I’m going to be excellent. I’m going to be like bionic girl now,” Noem says as she stands with workers from the shop.