2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation is an ongoing criminal investigation that focuses on whether Oklahoma State Representative Randy Terrill
(R-Moore), State Representative Mike Christian (R-Oklahoma City), and State Senator Debbe Leftwich
(D-Oklahoma City) engaged in political corruption
involving the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner
.
for undisclosed reasons. Within days, the Board terminated Dr. Trant.
Soon after Dr. Trants' termination, Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
directed State Health Commissioner Terry Cline
to review the operations of OCEM and make a report recommending both operational and statutory changes. In late March, Commissioner Cline released his report on OCME. In his report, Cline recommended both greater oversight authority on the part of the Medicolegal Investigations Board as well as restructuing the organization of OCME. Cline outline three models for possible reorganization but recommended the model that made the most sweeping changes. Under currently State law, the Chief Medical Examiner, who must be a licensed physician, is the executive head of OCME, responsible for all operations and administration of the agency. Cline recommended that State law be changed to establish a non-physician Administrator as head of OCME who would be responsible for all agency operations, with the position of Chief Medical Examiner overseeing all medical operations and reporting to the Administrator. Cline pointed to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
and the Oklahoma State Department of Health
as examples of this model.
Following the release of Cline's report, President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
Glenn Coffee
and Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Chris Benge
proposed Senate Bill 738 which would have enacted many of Cline's recommendations, including the establishment of a Transition Coordinator. The Transition Cooridnator, as provided by SB738, was to oversee the transition of OCME from its current location in Oklahoma City to Edmond and received an annual salary of $80,000. SB738 passed the Senate 45-0 and passed House of Representatives 58-40. Following the passage of the bill, Democratic State Senator Debbe Leftwich
announced that she would not seek reelection. On the same day, Republican State Representative Mike Christian announced that he would seek Leftwich's seat.
Citing legislative misconduct, Governor Henry vetoed SB 738 on June 6 after being briefed by Oklahoma County
District Attorney
David Prater on his ongoing investigation over political corruption involving the legislation. Days later, DA Prater announced that he had launched a political corruption investigation of State Representative Randy Terrill
(R-Moore), State Senator Leftwich and State Representative Christian over allegations of those legislators conspiring use SB738 to create a state job specifically for Senator Leftwich in OCME in exchange for her agreeing not to seek re-election. This, according to allegations, would make way for Representative Christian to fill her vacant Senate seat.
Randy Terrill
Oklahoma state Representative Randy Terrill is a representative of Moore, Oklahoma, who is known for authoring HB1804, an anti illegal immigration bill and an English-only bill known as HJR 1042 that is scheduled to be voted on November 1, 2010....
(R-Moore), State Representative Mike Christian (R-Oklahoma City), and State Senator Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2003-2010.-Early life:Born in Chandler, Oklahoma, Leftwitch grew up in Wellston, Oklahoma where she graduated from Wellston High School...
(D-Oklahoma City) engaged in political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
involving the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner
Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner
The Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner is the Oklahoma state official responsible for investigating sudden, unexpected, violent or suspicious deaths and determining the cause of death. The Chief Medical Examiner provides toxicological and pathological services to aid in the investigation of any death...
.
Background
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) had suffered from a large backlog of cases due to a low number of physicians. In early 2010, the Board of Medicolegal Investigations, which is the governing body of OCME, placed Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Collie Trant, M.D., on administrative leaveAdministrative leave
Administrative leave is a temporary leave from a job assignment, with pay and benefits intact. Generally, the term is reserved for employees of non-business institutions such as schools, police, and hospitals....
for undisclosed reasons. Within days, the Board terminated Dr. Trant.
Soon after Dr. Trants' termination, Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
directed State Health Commissioner Terry Cline
Terry Cline
Dr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...
to review the operations of OCEM and make a report recommending both operational and statutory changes. In late March, Commissioner Cline released his report on OCME. In his report, Cline recommended both greater oversight authority on the part of the Medicolegal Investigations Board as well as restructuing the organization of OCME. Cline outline three models for possible reorganization but recommended the model that made the most sweeping changes. Under currently State law, the Chief Medical Examiner, who must be a licensed physician, is the executive head of OCME, responsible for all operations and administration of the agency. Cline recommended that State law be changed to establish a non-physician Administrator as head of OCME who would be responsible for all agency operations, with the position of Chief Medical Examiner overseeing all medical operations and reporting to the Administrator. Cline pointed to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is an agency of the Government of Oklahoma responsible for providing public health services relating to mental illness and substance abuse...
and the Oklahoma State Department of Health
Oklahoma State Department of Health
The Oklahoma State Department of Health is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Health. The Department is responsible for protecting the health of all Oklahomans and providing other essential human services...
as examples of this model.
Following the release of Cline's report, President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
Glenn Coffee
Glenn Coffee
For the American football player, see Glen CoffeeVirgil Glenn Coffee is an American lawyer and Republican politician from the US state of Oklahoma. Coffee is currently the 30th Oklahoma Secretary of State, having been appointed by Governor Mary Fallin...
and Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
Chris Benge
Chris Benge
Chris Benge is a United States Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Benge served as the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Speaker of the House, a position he took over after Lance Cargill resigned in January 2008.Benge was first elected to the House of Representatives in...
proposed Senate Bill 738 which would have enacted many of Cline's recommendations, including the establishment of a Transition Coordinator. The Transition Cooridnator, as provided by SB738, was to oversee the transition of OCME from its current location in Oklahoma City to Edmond and received an annual salary of $80,000. SB738 passed the Senate 45-0 and passed House of Representatives 58-40. Following the passage of the bill, Democratic State Senator Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich
Debbe Leftwich is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2003-2010.-Early life:Born in Chandler, Oklahoma, Leftwitch grew up in Wellston, Oklahoma where she graduated from Wellston High School...
announced that she would not seek reelection. On the same day, Republican State Representative Mike Christian announced that he would seek Leftwich's seat.
Citing legislative misconduct, Governor Henry vetoed SB 738 on June 6 after being briefed by Oklahoma County
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
David Prater on his ongoing investigation over political corruption involving the legislation. Days later, DA Prater announced that he had launched a political corruption investigation of State Representative Randy Terrill
Randy Terrill
Oklahoma state Representative Randy Terrill is a representative of Moore, Oklahoma, who is known for authoring HB1804, an anti illegal immigration bill and an English-only bill known as HJR 1042 that is scheduled to be voted on November 1, 2010....
(R-Moore), State Senator Leftwich and State Representative Christian over allegations of those legislators conspiring use SB738 to create a state job specifically for Senator Leftwich in OCME in exchange for her agreeing not to seek re-election. This, according to allegations, would make way for Representative Christian to fill her vacant Senate seat.
Timeline
- January 2009 - The Board appointed Dr. Collie Trant, M.D., to serve as the Chief Medical Examiner.
- February 2, 2010 - The Board placed Dr. Trant on administrative leaveAdministrative leaveAdministrative leave is a temporary leave from a job assignment, with pay and benefits intact. Generally, the term is reserved for employees of non-business institutions such as schools, police, and hospitals....
with pay.
- February 5 - Dr. Trant's employment is terminated by the Board. No reason was given by the Board for Collie's termination.
- February 10 - Governor Brad HenryBrad HenryCharles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
directs State Health Commissioner Terry ClineTerry ClineDr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...
to review the OCME
- February 16 - Dr. Trant filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma.
- March 23 - State Health Commissioner Terry Cline releases his report on OCME and recommends several changes, including a restructure of the agency
- March 31 - Oklahoma State RepresentativeOklahoma House of RepresentativesThe Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
Randy TerrillRandy TerrillOklahoma state Representative Randy Terrill is a representative of Moore, Oklahoma, who is known for authoring HB1804, an anti illegal immigration bill and an English-only bill known as HJR 1042 that is scheduled to be voted on November 1, 2010....
(R-Moore) launched a legislative investigation into the operations of the OCME
- May 24 - OCME Chief Administrative Officer Tom Jordan, the highest ranking officer at the OCME at the time, announces his resignation effective June 14 after only six months on the job
- May 27 - Senate Bill 738, approving many of the changes recommended by Commissioner Cline, passes the Senate 45–0 and passed House of Representatives 58-40
- June 5 - The Board appoints Dr. Andrew Sibley, a 48-year-old senior forensic pathologist with the OCME's Tulsa Office, as Interim Chief Medical Examiner
- June 6 - Citing legislative misconduct, Governor Henry vetoed SB 738 after being briefed by Oklahoma CountyOklahoma County, OklahomaOklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
District AttorneyDistrict attorneyIn many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
David Prater on his ongoing investigation over political corruption involving the legislation
- June 8 - Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater launched a political corruption investigation of State Representative Randy TerrillRandy TerrillOklahoma state Representative Randy Terrill is a representative of Moore, Oklahoma, who is known for authoring HB1804, an anti illegal immigration bill and an English-only bill known as HJR 1042 that is scheduled to be voted on November 1, 2010....
(R-Moore), State Senator Debbe LeftwichDebbe LeftwichDebbe Leftwich is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2003-2010.-Early life:Born in Chandler, Oklahoma, Leftwitch grew up in Wellston, Oklahoma where she graduated from Wellston High School...
(D-Oklahoma City) and State Representative Mike Christian (R-Oklahoma City) over allegations of those legislators conspiring use SB738 to create a state job specifically for Senator Leftwich in OCME in exchange for her agreeing not to seek re-election, making way for Representative Christian to fill her vacant Senate seat
- June 9 - Reports from the Oklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationOklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationThe Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the city police departments of the state and is the primary investigative agency of the state government...
surface showing that Interim Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Sibley was the subject of a sexual harassmentSexual harassmentSexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
lawsuit while he lived in Tucson, ArizonaTucson, ArizonaTucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
and another sexual harassment lawsuit from a fellow employee during Sibley's tenure at the OCME's Tulsa Office
- August 16–18 – DA Prater, with the permission of Oklahoma Attorney General Drew EdmondsonDrew EdmondsonWilliam Andrew "Drew" Edmondson , is an American lawyer and politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, Edmondson served as the 16th Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2011...
, convenes a grand juryGrand juryA grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
to review the evidence of the political corruption case.