MILWAUKEE —The South Dakota Republican Party’s executive director has paid the fine for a ticket he was issued by the Milwaukee Police Department on a charge of disorderly conduct, avoiding any further legal proceedings on the matter.
Reggie Rhoden — son of Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden — paid the $195 ticket for disorderly conduct to the Milwaukee City Municipal Court, meaning that the man in charge of the party’s day-to-day operations will not have to make a Nov. 4 court appearance in Wisconsin’s largest city.
Reggie Rhoden was cited on Aug. 22 for violating Milwaukee’s disorderly conduct ordinance. The citation was served via mail on Sept. 3.
According to the citation written by Milwaukee police officer William Schroeder, Rhoden “created a disturbance” at the Fiserv Forum on July 15 — the first day of the Republican National Convention.
The report stemmed from an Aug. 22 phone call between the officer and Andrew Lauschke, a South Dakota delegate from Pennington County. Lauschke told police that he was recording a video on the floor of the convention when Rhoden “snatched” the phone from his hand and tossed it.
Rhoden allegedly did not want GOP delegate Taffy Howard in the video, the Dakota Scout reported, citing sources. Howard previously served in the South Dakota House of Representatives before she unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., for his seat in the U.S. House in 2022. She’s currently a candidate for the South Dakota State Senate.
“Lauschke stated the phone hit a person in the Maryland delegation,” the citation reads.
According to a floor map of the convention, the Maryland delegation was seated immediately adjacent to the South Dakota delegation on the far right side of the convention floor.
Lauschke said a disturbance and argument took place before Rhoden walked away.
Though it’s unknown whether the person allegedly struck with the phone was injured, Lauschke told police that his wrist was hurt in the process.
The citation indicates that Lauschke attempted to report the altercation to multiple law enforcement agencies at the Republican National Convention, but that police records show no reports filed by officers on the scene.
In speaking with Schroeder on Aug. 22, Lauschke requested that Rhoden be cited.
Rhoden has served as the executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party since February.
