Senator Frei-Mueller responds to the sudden interruption

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – On Saturday, Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller issued a statement in response to her suspension from the South Dakota Senate.

On Wednesday, Frye-Mueller, who represents District 30 in the state Senate, was removed from her committee post after an exchange with a female legislative staffer.

Frei-Mueller said the conversation touched on “intimate and personal details of maternity issues between the two women” and a discussion about vaccines.

“And as for our discussion about vaccines, my advice is to encourage people to be informed and be able to make the best choices for themselves and their families. However, this extreme and barbaric action by the South Dakota state senate against me and It is unacceptable to deprive the great people of District 30 of their right to representation in the Senate,” Fry-Mueller said in a statement.

Sen. Helen Duhamel is one of nine senators appointed to the Discipline and Removal Committee, which is tasked with removing Frye-Mueller from the Senate. Duhamel says the process will be very transparent to the public.

“It will be open to the public so people can watch and hear and decide for themselves how outrageous the allegations are. People will be part of the process, we are very transparent in the legislature,” Duhamel said.

The committee will decide next week whether to fire Frei-Mueller.

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