Political Corruption Investigation

Political Corruption Investigation
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

Ex-Oklahoma lawmakers' bribery trial date set March 20, 2013 | Comment on this article Leave a comment OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oct. 21 trial date has been set for two former Oklahoma lawmakers who face felony bribery charges. The trial was scheduled Wednesday for former Republican Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore and former Democratic Sen. Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City. Pretrial motions in the case will be heard... Read More
Trial of Debbe Leftwich, Randy Terrill, former Oklahoma lawmakers, to advance after delay December 14, 2012 After a year on hold, a bribery case against two former Oklahoma legislators soon will move forward to trial. Read More
Hearing held in ex-Oklahoma lawmakers' bribery case December 13, 2012 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma County prosecutors are asking a state appeals court to add a conspiracy charge against two former state lawmakers who face felony bribery charges. Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland argued Thursday before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals that there was enough evidence... Read More
Judge rules lawmaker, ex-senator will not face conspiracy charge at trial December 05, 2011 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 December 05, 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 November 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 November 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 November 04, 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 November 03, 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 November 03, 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 November 02, 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 November 02, 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 October 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 October 31, 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 October 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
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The Players

Rep. Mike Christian 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. Debby Leftwich 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 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