The Government Operations and Audit Committee of the South Dakota Legislature meets tomorrow in Pierre. On the agenda will be questions and answers from Joop Bollen, the man at the center of the EB-5 visa controversy. The committee sent him a series of questions, and in his written responses that have been released, Bollen defended the EB-5 program, and said it became controversial because the media blew it out of proportion.

Committee member Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says they hope the answers fill in some of the blanks…

 

Hunhoff said she was still concerned that the committee could get in the way of any ongoing federal investigation…

 

Bollen will not appear in person, but his responses will be read into the record. Board of Regents Executive Director Jack Warner is scheduled to appear to talk about the Regents role in the EB-5 economic development program.

Hunhoff says committee members are writing new conflict of interest bills to avoid similar situations in the future…