'Put through hell': USDA to investigate overreach after SD ranching family charged

Washington, D.C., news conference attended by Maudes and South Dakota politicians

Charles and Heather Maude at a press conference in Washington, D.C. April 30. They were joined by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sen. Mike Rounds, Rep. Dusty Johnson and Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will investigate accusations of bureaucratic overreach following the prosecution of a South Dakota ranching family over a land dispute, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday.

An online portal has been established at the department’s website for farmers and ranchers to report abuse claims at the hands of USDA representatives, Rollins said.

“We must ensure that our farmers and our ranchers have not and will not be targeted for living the American way of life,” Rollins said during a press conference in Washington, D.C.

Trump cabinet, state powerbrokers went to bat for S.D. ranch couple