Former Dakota News Now reporter Austin Goss is apologizing for what he called a “satirical prank call” that got him arrested and then fired from his job as a reporter at the Sioux Falls ABC NBC and Fox affiliate.
Goss was fired after sending a pre recorded prank call to Dan Lederman, the former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, that made it appear as if the call was coming from Governor Kristi Noem. He also plead guilty to reduced charges after being arrested.
“Many have asked, ‘what was he thinking?’ The answer is simple, very little,” Goss wrote in a guest column for the Dakota Scout. “At that moment, my intention was nothing more than to share the joke with a few friends, and I thought the disclaimer at the end of the call would make that clear. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility for it.”
You can read the full apology below:
On my first day in Pierre, roughly three years ago, one of the first people I met told me, “If you love South Dakota, it will love you back.”
That sentiment has proven to be true over the years, but especially so the last week. My family and I have been incredibly blessed by the outpouring of support and prayers from people from across the state, and while I will most definitely remember this moment for the rest of my life, it’s the generosity and kindness of South Dakotans that I will remember the most.
As most of you reading this know, several months ago I placed a pre-recorded, satirical prank phone call to Dan Lederman, a person I considered a friend, via a website called PrankDial.com and put Governor Kristi Noem’s phone number as the sender. Knowing Dan also had her phone number, I thought the result would be nothing more than a funny joke that the two of us could laugh at.
Of course, this is not a call I’d ever make again – to Dan or anyone else. Many have asked, “what was he thinking?” The answer is simple, very little. At that moment, my intention was nothing more than to share the joke with a few friends, and I thought the disclaimer at the end of the call would make that clear. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility for it.