SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A public records request for former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s state credit card charges is providing a closer look at travel and spending near the end of her term in Pierre.
The South Dakota state auditor’s office received a public records request from KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer on Feb. 26 seeking Noem’s state credit card charges for the past six years. The request also sought any available credit card charges incurred by Noem’s predecessor in the governor’s office, Dennis Daugaard. The state granted Mercer’s request and provided KELOLAND News with redacted invoices.
Noem is now secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; she resigned the governorship on Jan. 25. In the time immediately preceding that date, the statements for Noem’s state credit card with PREMIER Bankcard show a balance of $24,005.27 for the period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 28 and $22,309.68 for the period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 29.
While KELOLAND News has not yet seen a PREMIER Bankcard account summary showing activity from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29, the statement for the period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 29 shows a previous balance of $29,458.06.
During the time period beginning on Oct. 30, South Dakota taxpayers paid for hotel rooms for the governor’s security detail in several states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Additionally, lodging for the governor’s security detail in Washington, D.C. in January 2025 included the following costs for taxpayers:
- $6,336.54 at Canopy by Hilton
- $6,693.87 at Hampton Inn & Suites
- $2,422.07 at Cambria Hotel Washington D.C.