Dakota News News Reporter Fired for Spoofing Governor’s Phone

A Dakota News Now reporter is out of a job and facing potential jail time after he allegedly placed a prank phone call using South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's personal cellphone number.

CBS News is reporting Austin Goss, the former Capitol Bureau reporter for Sioux Falls' Dakota News Now and Rapid City's KOTA, made the call January 22 using the website PrankDial.com, which made it appear as if the call was coming from Noem's personal cellphone. The call was made to an individual identified in court documents only as "D.L." Dan Lederman, former chair of the South Dakota Republican Party, who has since confirmed that he was the recipient of that call.

According to an affidavit submitted to the state's circuit court, Lederman heard a recording called 'Mafia Guy Got Vaccines.' In the recording, a man accosts the listener with questions about the whereabouts of COVID-19 vaccines, then accuses the listener of conspiring to 'move the three boxes of that AstraZeneca outside this family,' later saying, 'Oh, I'm getting so angry.'

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This week, Goss was arrested and charged with making threatening, harassing, or misleading telephone calls. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.

According to court documents, Goss made a call on January 22 using the website PrankDial.com, which made it appear as if the call was coming from Noem's personal cellphone. The call was made to an individual identified in court documents only as "D.L." Dan Lederman, former chair of the South Dakota Republican Party, confirmed to CBS News that he was the prank call's recipient. He declined further comment.

According to an affidavit submitted to the state's circuit court, Lederman heard a recording called "Mafia Guy Got Vaccines." In the recording, a man accosts the listener with questions about the whereabouts of COVID-19 vaccines, then accuses the listener of conspiring to "move the three boxes of that AstraZeneca outside this family," later saying, "Oh, I'm getting so angry."

After Goss' arrest, Dakota News Now and KOTA issued a joint statement, Thursday (May 4):

We learned of the incident involving Austin Goss late last night. Once we gathered the facts, we decided to terminate his employment with our stations. Dakota News Now and KOTA Territory were unaware of Mr. Goss' activities and deeply regret the lack of judgment he showed, which violated our policies and is contrary to our commitment to the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

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