Challenger to Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel named in libel suit

Jarjoura and Whetsel have vehemently denied the accusations of terrorist ties or using contributions to become a reserve deputy, and accused the article’s authors of racism. Jarjoura also denied having a criminal record. Gerhart later retracted part of the article.

Named as defendants

Knight is named as a defendant because she provided the information used to prepare the article, according to the lawsuit; Long because he republished the article on his online blog, and Freedom Bail Bonds because an employee posted hyperlinks to the article on the business’ Facebook page, according to the lawsuit.

Jarjoura said he is a Christian and that he volunteers 60 to 120 hours each month enforcing traffic laws for the county sheriff’s office because he has a passion for law enforcement.

“Dr. Jarjoura is a hardworking, generous dentist who donates his time and money to the sheriff’s office and the tea party is attempting to punish him for that,” said his attorney, Robert Lafferandre, on Thursday.

“These articles, when read as a whole, in my opinion try to characterize him as a terrorist and that is so far from what Dr. Jarjoura is.”

Sorrels did not return phone calls on Thursday, and both Long and Knight referred questions to their attorney, Mark Wilson. Wilson, who is representing each of the defendants, also declined to comment.