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Hill Republicans Hoping Janklow Will Resign
Aired September 02, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well most members of Congress heading back to Capitol Hill today. Congressman Bill Janklow is heading to a South Dakota courtroom. Janklow is facing manslaughter charges from a traffic accident in which a motorcyclist died.
Our Jonathan Karl on Capitol Hill with more on all this. Hello, Jonathan.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, miles.
Well police say Janklow was traveling between 71 and 75 miles an hour when he blew through a stop sign in a 55 mile an hour zone, hitting motorcyclist Randy Scott who died in the accident.
Now the most serious charge coming out of the accident is second degree manslaughter, which could land Janklow in prison for up to ten years and also slap him with a $10,000 fine. He also faces three charges on misdemeanor charges, including reckless driving, the most serious, running a stop sign and speeding.
Now Janklow is a towering political figure in the state of South Dakota. Not only is he the state's only representative in the House of Representatives, he is also a former governor. He served for 16 years, two separate back to back terms of eight years each in South Dakota. He is, by far, the dominant Republican figure in that state, somebody who was talked about as a possible challenger to Tom Daschle in next year's Senate races out there.
The big question in South Dakota now, and also in Republican circles here in Washington, is will Bill Janklow resign? Many Republicans here in Washington hope that he does resign. There's been nothing from him. In fact there's been nothing from Janklow publicly about this accident yet.
His son, Russ Janklow out in South Dakota, told "The Sioux Falls Argus Leader" that his father is not even considering resigning. So that something to watch out in South Dakota. If he does resign there will have to be a special election to decide how to fill his seat -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, well let's talk about that for just a moment, lay out the political landscape here. And remind me on the House rules on when someone might be forced to resign in a situation like this.
KARL: Well, even if he is convicted of a felony, he can still serve in the House of Representatives. Under house rules, what the rules say is that he would be advised not to vote, but not strictly required not to vote. It would, in a sense, be left up to him with the rules urging him not to vote. So he could actually continue to serve, even if he is convicted of a felony.
You have more sticky question if he actually goes to jail, what happens in that situation. If he resigns, you would have a special election in 90 days out in South Dakota.
But this is especially significant because Janklow was looked at by Republicans as one of only two people they believe has a chance of beating Tom Daschle in next year's Senate race. Republicans really want to put Daschle in the hot seat out in South Dakota, which is, after all, a very Republican state. They thought Janklow, along with the former Congressman John Thune, was one of two people who could actually take Daschle on. Now they certainly don't think that's the case.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jonathan Karl, thank you very much. Lots to consider there. And we appreciate you keeping us posted on all of it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT WWW.FDCH.COM
Aired September 2, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well most members of Congress heading back to Capitol Hill today. Congressman Bill Janklow is heading to a South Dakota courtroom. Janklow is facing manslaughter charges from a traffic accident in which a motorcyclist died.
Our Jonathan Karl on Capitol Hill with more on all this. Hello, Jonathan.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, miles.
Well police say Janklow was traveling between 71 and 75 miles an hour when he blew through a stop sign in a 55 mile an hour zone, hitting motorcyclist Randy Scott who died in the accident.
Now the most serious charge coming out of the accident is second degree manslaughter, which could land Janklow in prison for up to ten years and also slap him with a $10,000 fine. He also faces three charges on misdemeanor charges, including reckless driving, the most serious, running a stop sign and speeding.
Now Janklow is a towering political figure in the state of South Dakota. Not only is he the state's only representative in the House of Representatives, he is also a former governor. He served for 16 years, two separate back to back terms of eight years each in South Dakota. He is, by far, the dominant Republican figure in that state, somebody who was talked about as a possible challenger to Tom Daschle in next year's Senate races out there.
The big question in South Dakota now, and also in Republican circles here in Washington, is will Bill Janklow resign? Many Republicans here in Washington hope that he does resign. There's been nothing from him. In fact there's been nothing from Janklow publicly about this accident yet.
His son, Russ Janklow out in South Dakota, told "The Sioux Falls Argus Leader" that his father is not even considering resigning. So that something to watch out in South Dakota. If he does resign there will have to be a special election to decide how to fill his seat -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, well let's talk about that for just a moment, lay out the political landscape here. And remind me on the House rules on when someone might be forced to resign in a situation like this.
KARL: Well, even if he is convicted of a felony, he can still serve in the House of Representatives. Under house rules, what the rules say is that he would be advised not to vote, but not strictly required not to vote. It would, in a sense, be left up to him with the rules urging him not to vote. So he could actually continue to serve, even if he is convicted of a felony.
You have more sticky question if he actually goes to jail, what happens in that situation. If he resigns, you would have a special election in 90 days out in South Dakota.
But this is especially significant because Janklow was looked at by Republicans as one of only two people they believe has a chance of beating Tom Daschle in next year's Senate race. Republicans really want to put Daschle in the hot seat out in South Dakota, which is, after all, a very Republican state. They thought Janklow, along with the former Congressman John Thune, was one of two people who could actually take Daschle on. Now they certainly don't think that's the case.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jonathan Karl, thank you very much. Lots to consider there. And we appreciate you keeping us posted on all of it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT WWW.FDCH.COM
