A fundraising dinner for the Jefferson County Republican Party featuring South Dakota Governor and possible vice-presidential candidate Kristi Noem was canceled due to safety concerns after she admitted in her new book that she had killed a family dog because of its behavioral issues. This, along with allegations that some meetings Noem claims to have had with world leaders might not have happened, has created a lot of backlash, according to an announcement made by party officials on Friday.
The dinner, scheduled for Saturday night, was originally planned as a fundraising event to promote Noem’s new book, “No Going Back.” Party Chair Nancy Pallozzi explained that when they invited Noem in January, they had no idea that her book would contain such controversial content. In late April, when Noem revealed she had killed her 14-month-old dog 20 years ago due to its behavior problems, criticism poured in from all sides, including from Republicans, Democrats, and dog experts.
As the backlash grew, so did safety concerns. Pallozzi noted that threats, including death threats, had been made against the party, the Denver West Marriott where the event was to be held, and even Noem and her staff. The threats mentioned potential violence and indicated that guns might be brought to the protest planned by a group called Progress Now.
Given the risk of harm, the party decided to cancel the event. Pallozzi noted that they couldn’t ignore the threats and had to prioritize safety. Despite the setback, the Jefferson County Republican Party plans to reschedule with a different speaker in the near future.
