2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation

The 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation was a criminal investigation that focused 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.

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 leave 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.

Timeline

References

  1. ↑ Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner Placed on Leave, 02-02-2010
  2. ↑ Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Collie Trant Terminated, 02-05-2010
  3. ↑ Gov. Henry task Health Commissioner to review ME's Office, Office of Governor Henry, 02-10-2010
  4. ↑ Former Chief Medical Examiner Suesto Get Job Back, 02-07-2010
  5. ↑ Gov. Henry releases review of ME Office, Office of Governor Henry, 03-23-2010
  6. ↑ Lawmaker Wants Criminal Investigation of Former Chief Medical Examiner, 03-31-2010
  7. ↑ Chief administrative officer of Oklahoma medical examiner's office resigns, Tulsa World, 05-24-2010
  8. ↑ Tulsa Physician Appointed Interim Chief Medical Examiner, 06-05-2010
  9. ↑ District attorney investigates Oklahoma legislators over possible corruption, The Daily Oklahoman, 06-06-2010
  10. ↑ Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Interim Medical Examiner Also Reported in Oklahoma, 06-09-2010

External links

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