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• Secretary of State Jason Gant's office supervises elections, and Adelstein said he was concerned about "allegations of impropriety, conflict of interest and possible illegal activity." The Rapid City Republican questioned whether Gant bought campaign material from the store for his re-election campaign or made use of mailing lists, and whether the business used state computers, office space, lists or supplies.
• Jackley said Tuesday that the state Department of Criminal Investigation looked into Adelstein's allegations and found no wrongdoing.
• "The voluminous emails, Internet usage and computer files provided no evidence that the activities of Secretary Gant, Mr. Powers or 'Dakota Campaign Store' were in violation of state criminal statutes," Jackley wrote in his letter to Adelstein.
• Adelstein did not immediately return a phone call for comment.
• Gant said Jackley's opinion proves his office did not participate in anything nefarious or illegal.
• "I trust this statement will put this politically motivated issue to rest and my office can continue bettering our elections, serving our voters, improving corporate filings, and making my office easier to use for all South Dakotans," he said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon.
• The online business, shut down last month, sold campaign materials including yard signs, bumper stickers and political postcards.
• Powers, who used to run a conservative blog called Dakota War College, did not immediately return a call for comment.
• Adelstein also had asked Jackley if Gant could be impeached or removed by the governor. Under the South Dakota Constitution, the governor and other state and judicial officers are subject to impeachment for "drunkenness, crimes, corrupt con (Continued on page 16)
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