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Scott Presler Denied Entry to South Dakota Republican Party Dinner
Newsweek reported that conservative activist Scott Presler was turned away from a Thursday dinner event in South Dakota featuring Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Presler blamed Thune's staff on X, a claim rejected by Thune communications officer Ryan Wrasse. The South Dakota Searchlight said it was also blocked despite prior registration.
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Conservative activist Scott Presler was denied entry to a South Dakota Republican Party dinner on Thursday. The event featured Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin as speakers. Presler posted on X that Thune’s staff had blocked him.
“It was Senate Majority Leader Thune’s staff that would not let me into the dinner. Thought I looked mildly handsome. ” he wrote. Ryan Wrasse, a communications officer for Thune, called the accusation a categorical lie.
“John Thune’s staff doesn’t run ticketing checks at the South Dakota GOP dinner doors,” Wrasse stated on X. He added that the event was closed to press and advertised as such. The South Dakota Searchlight reported on Friday that it had also been denied entry.
The outlet said it completed online registration and received an email granting permission, but staff at the door cited problems with other media registrants not considered legitimate by the state party. Newsweek contacted Thune’s office and the South Dakota Republican Party for comment outside regular working hours.
