>South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Kristi Noem charged in connection with teen's death.
Fair account or hit piece on Noam?
All the focus is on Noam, like she knowingly (and singlehandedly) released a dangerous criminal from jail.
NOT TRUE.
''Milk was almost three decades into a life term on a manslaughter conviction when Noem commuted his sentence in 2023.''
Milk was sentenced to life in prison in 1994 for beating a man to death after a fight in Winner. Then-Gov. Kristi Noem commuted his sentence in 2023, making him eligible for parole. The commutation came AFTER Milk went through a formal application process and earned a UNANIMOUS recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board released him the following year after a parole hearing. Wendel was at the hearing and asked the board to support his release.
https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/06/18/sioux-falls-man-on-parole-for-manslaughter-is-charged-with-providing-drugs-that-killed-his-niece/
So THERE WAS A CONSENSUS that this guy was ready for release, probably based on the idea that the original offense was committed when he was just a kid. No one would have had reason to suspect he was still a danger to others, especially if he had a clean prison record.