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Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater's political corruption investigation focuses on whether Rep. Randy Terrill, Rep. Mike Christian, Sen. Debbe Leftwich and possibly other politicians conspired to create an $80,000-a-year job with the medical examiner's office for Leftwich so Christian could run for her Senate seat.

Political corruption investigation articles from NewsOK and The Oklahoman

Judge rules lawmaker, ex-senator will not face conspiracy charge at trial Updated: Mon, Dec 5, 2011 | Comment on this article

Leave a comment Prosecutors say they will appeal a judge's decision to deny their request to add conspiracy charge against a lawmaker and ex-senator facing bribery charges. Read More

Oklahoma judge to rule on lawmaker conspiracy charge Published: Mon, Dec 5, 2011 An Oklahoma County judge will decide whether to authorize conspiracy charges against a state representative and a former state senator who already face felony bribery charges in an alleged scheme to coax the senator into retirement in exchange for an $80,000-a-year state job. Read More

Judge to rule in Oklahoma political bribery case next week Published: Tue, Nov 29, 2011 Oklahoma District County Judge Ray Elliott is reviewing evidence and a 700-page transcript before he rules whether prosecutors can add a conspiracy count in the bribery case against state Rep. Randy Terrill and former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich. Read More

Prosecutors to appeal conspiracy ruling in Randy Terrill and Debbe Leftwich bribery case Published: Mon, Nov 28, 2011 Oklahoma County prosecutors are appealing a judge's decision to dismiss a conspiracy complaint against a state lawmaker and a former state senator who face felony bribery charges. Read More

Judge rules sufficient evidence for bribery trial for state Rep. Randy Terrill, former Sen. Debbe Leftwich Updated: Fri, Nov 4, 2011 Oklahoma County special judge's decision comes on the fourth day of the preliminary hearing. Read More

Cherokee Ballard resigns from ME's office for job at Oklahoma Natural Gas Updated: Thu, Nov 3, 2011 Cherokee Ballard has stepped down as the state medical examiner's office spokeswoman after three years. Read More

Oklahoma lawmaker testifies in corruption case that he believed state Sen. Debbe Leftwich was unqualified for created job Updated: Wed, Nov 2, 2011 An Oklahoma legislator testified Wednesday he urged then-Gov. Brad Henry to veto a 2010 bill to reform the medical examiner's office after hearing rumors state Sen. Debbe Leftwich would get a newly created job there. State Rep. Randy Terrill is accused of helping create the job for Leftwich in exchange for her not... Read More

Ex-Senate leader testifies in Oklahoma bribery case Published: Wed, Nov 2, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — It would be inappropriate to pass legislation that creates a state job for a state lawmaker, the former leader of the Oklahoma state Senate testified Wednesday during a preliminary hearing for a current and a former lawmaker accused of bribery. Secretary of State Glenn Coffee, a former... Read More

Witness testifies he was told to keep quiet about rumor senator would get state job Updated: Tue, Nov 1, 2011 Testimony comes on second day of preliminary hearing in political bribery case. Read More

Oklahoma M.E. officials testify Rep. Randy Terrill pushed for hiring of senator Updated: Mon, Oct 31, 2011 Preliminary hearing gets under way in Oklahoma political bribery case in Oklahoma City. Read More

Testimony to get under way in political bribery case Updated: Fri, Oct 28, 2011 Potential witnesses include former Gov. Brad Henry and more than a dozen current and former legislators. Read More

Oklahoma appeals court won't dismiss bribery charge Published: Thu, Oct 13, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state appeals court has rejected a former state senator's request to dismiss a bribery charge against her. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals took the action Thursday in the case of former Sen. Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City. Prosecutors say Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican,... Read More

Prosecutors ready to go forward with Oklahoma political corruption case Published: Tue, Sep 20, 2011 Oklahoma Supreme Court lifts hold on case against Randy Terrill, Debbe Leftwich. Read More

Oklahoma House committee decides against expulsion hearing for Terrill Published: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 The panel says no one would vote to recommend expulsion from the Oklahoma House of Representatives unless he is convicted of a felony in court. Read More

Former lawmaker shouldn't be prosecuted, attorney tells Oklahoma Supreme Court Published: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 The attorney for former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich says a clause in the Oklahoma Constitution states lawmakers may not be brought into court to testify about discussions during the legislative process. The state Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in June that the clause does not pertain to felonies. Leftwich, a Democrat... Read More

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The Players

Rep. Mike Christian R - Oklahoma City Christian is alleged to have helped create a position at the medical examiner's office for Leftwich so he could run for her Senate seat.

Rep. Debbe Leftwich D - Oklahoma City Leftwich is alleged to have taken a deal to step down from her Senate seat in exchange for a high-paying, newly-created position in the medical examiner's office.

Rep. Randy Terrill R - Moore Terrill helped write the bills that created and funded the new medical examiner's job alleged to have been promised to Leftwich.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater

District Attorney David Prater Prater says he has strong evidence of political corruption involving Terrill, Christian, Leftwich and possibly others to present to the state's multicounty grand jury, which can issue indictments or recommend impeachment from office.

Lawmakers respond

Although 10 state lawmakers signed a conference committee report supporting adoption of a bill regarding the state medical examiner's office, The Oklahoman could find none who would acknowledge knowing the origin of a provision to create an $80,000- a-year transition coordinator position. A political corruption investigation is under way to determine if state Sen. Debbe Leftwich was promised that job in exchange for not running for re-election. Here is what some of the lawmakers on the conference committee had to say about the origin of the controversial language:

"At the time we got the conference committee report, the explanation given to me was that this is the ME bill, we're removing the ME's office from Oklahoma City to Edmond.... I don't know who or how or when that specific language about that transition coordinator was added.”

State Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman

"I wasn't involved in the drafting or authorship or any of that.... I read the conference committee report before I signed it, but that wasn't pointed out or described.”

State Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond

"In this case, I guess I signed it and I probably signed it without reading it because usually you're at your desk voting on other bills when you're asked to sign it.”

State Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa

"I don't know who put the language in.... I had no problem with the transition coordinator to help them make the move. If that position was designed for a particular person, I had no knowledge of that. I will tell you that Sen. Leftwich would be a wonderful person for that position.”

State Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove

"I didn't know that there was a transition coordinator in there.... I read the thing and it didn't occur to me to think anything of it.”

State Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa