SD GOP Executive Director Reggie Rhoden charged for disorderly conduct

Reggie Rhoden, the executive director of the South Dakota GOP and son of Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, was charged with violating a disorderly conduct ordinance after an alleged incident at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

A citation filed in the Milwaukee Municipal Court system shows Reggie Rhoden, 30, was flagged for an incident that occurred on July 15, the first day of the convention. The incident took place at Fiserv Forum, the arena where the RNC was held.

The Dakota Scout first reported the citation stemmed from an alleged altercation in which Reggie Rhoden confiscated a phone from Andreas Lauschke, a South Dakota delegate from Rapid City, who was filming on the RNC floor. The state GOP executive director then tossed the phone, which allegedly hit a member of the adjacent Maryland delegation.

The news outlet cited sources who alleged Lauschke’s RNC video included Taffy Howard, another South Dakota delegate, a former state House member and past unsuccessful Republican challenger of Congressman Dusty Johnson. The sources alleged Reggie Rhoden took issue with Howard’s appearing in the video, which led to the conflict.

Larry Rhoden appeared at the RNC the same night the alleged incident took place. The lieutenant governor stood next to his son while casting the state’s 29 Republican delegate votes for former president Donald Trump.

Larry Rhoden did not immediately respond to a request from comment from the Argus Leader, nor did GOP Chairman John Wiik.

Reggie Rhoden has not entered a plea in relation to the citation, but the GOP director does have a scheduled court date in Milwaukee set for Nov. 4, according to the municipal court system. A $195 deposit is attached to the citation.