Oklahoma House leader to step down after felony indictment

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Oklahoma House leader to step down after felony indictment

By SEAN MURPHY
January 7, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The second-highest Republican in the Oklahoma House said he’s stepping down from his leadership post as he defends himself from felony charges alleging that he abused his power by changing state law so that his wife could become a tag agent.

State Rep. Terry O’Donnell said in a statement late Thursday that he will resign Feb. 2 from his position as House speaker pro tempore while he and his wife Teresa, who was also indicted on multiple felony counts in connection with the alleged scheme, fight the charges.

“My wife and I are innocent, and we will fight back and vigorously defend our integrity,” O’Donnell said in the statement. “I will not allow false narratives to be a distraction to the work of the state House.”

O’Donnell and his wife did a “walk-through booking” on Thursday at the Midwest City Jail and were immediately released on bond, said Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter. Terry O’Donnell’s bond was $23,000, while Teresa was released on $16,000 bond, he said.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-oklahoma-city-indictments-b822001921f0cb18db3ec579bb280ae2


In this Jan. 6, 2022, booking photo provided by the Midwest City, Okla., Jail is Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O'Donnell. O'Donnell and his wife Teresa face multiple felony counts connected to allegations Terry O'Donnell misused his power to change state law so that his wife could become a tag agent. O'Donnell says he plans to step down from his leadership position after his grand jury indictment. (Midwest City Jail via AP)

[NBachers]

1. Tag agents, as in license plates, boat tags, driver's licenses, etc.

Tag agents offer a varying range of services to customers, depending on their location. They provide help with driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, turnpike passes, title transfers, notary services and boat tags. State agencies duplicate many of those services, online or at state offices.

For decades, tag agencies have had a monopoly on driver’s licenses. If a person wants to drive, they have to obtain a license at a tag agency. Oklahoma is the only state that handles driver’s licenses exclusively through privately owned, state-subsidized businesses.

https://oklahomawatch.org/2019/05/06/even-with-digital-drivers-licenses-tag-agencies-likely-to-remain/

[captain queeg]

2. When I see these kinds of post I usually check to see if the person is an R

Any guess to what I find? 9 times out of 10 it’s a rethug.

[Bleacher Creature]

3. It's definitely not an accident why that's the case.

If you inherently don't believe in a functioning government, you likely have no problem bleeding it dry (so long as you get over the whole corruption and possible criminality issues). There are obviously corrupt Democrats as well, but there's just not the same synergy as is the case with Republicans.