SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota authorities have arrested defeated U.S. Senate candidate Annette Bosworth, saying she fraudulently attested to gathering voter signatures when she was really on a Christian mission trip to the Philippines.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley charged Bosworth with six counts of perjury and six counts of filing false documents related to election campaign laws. The arrest warrant was served a day after Bosworth lost the Republican primary with just 6 percent of the vote.
Jackley said the 42-year-old Bosworth was given notice of the warrant Wednesday morning and turned herself in to the Minnehaha County Jail. She was immediately released.
At a press conference Wednesday, Bosworth called the charges “a political intimidation scheme” against her by Jackley, who was initially appointed to his position by former Gov. Mike Rounds. Rounds defeated Bosworth and three other Republicans to capture the GOP nomination for the seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Tim Johnson.
