House Dems Demand An Audit Of Legislature Finances

  Following the revelations that former Speaker, Jeff Hickman, secretly paid out a sexual harassment & wrongful termination claim; the Democrat legislative leaders are publicly calling  for the State Auditor's Office to conduct a full audit of the management of the House of Representatives.

  The public call came out during a press conference conducted by minority leader, Scott Inman; along with David Perryman(D-Chickasha), and George Young(D-OKC). In his statement, Inman calls for full disclosure of how and why the House leadership secretly paid about $45,000 to a fired legislative assistant and her lawyers.
  On it's face, the House records are clearly attempting to foul the people into thinking that a law firm provided cleaning and housekeeping services for the west side of the capitol building. the journal entry simply says; "for housekeeping and cleaning".

A Reform Opportunity?

  This may be a great opportunity for the new leadership team in the House. Charles McCall can perhaps insulate his new administration from past administrations by authorizing the audit request. It would shield Speaker McCall from any revelations if it's done before the new legislature oges into session. Any of the Auditor's recommendations can be pondered without being regarded as a rebuke of Speaker McCall. But it would be a distraction as well, and that can be a hindrance to the leadership's 'game plan'.

From left: Democratic state Reps. George Young of Oklahoma City, Scott Inman of Del City and David Perryman of Chickasha, discussing concerns over a sexual harassment claim paid with House (taxpayer) resources. Photo by Pat McGuigan.

---

Minority Leader Inman asked that the new House leader “promptly provide the answers to the following questions” : 

1. ​When did the alleged conduct occur and for what duration?
   
2. Prior to the filing of a complaint, was the conduct ever brought to the attention of House Leadership or legal staff? If so, when?
   
3. Did the House of Representatives ever attempt to resolve the matter by relocating Ms. Bishop to another office or member?
   
4. Was Rep. Kirby the only State Representative involved in the alleged misconduct?
   
5. To what end, if any, was Rep. Randy Grau involved with the matter and/or the legislative assistant?
   
6. Did the House of Representatives initiate an independent investigation into the matter? If so, when and by whom was it authorized? If not, why not? And who made that decision?
   
7. If an investigation was initiated, what were the ultimate findings?
   
8. Was this matter ever submitted to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for investigation?
   
9. Who negotiated the settlement agreement on behalf of the Oklahoma House and at whose request?
   
10. By what legal authority was such a payment justified?
    
11. Please provide a detailed accounting of the costs and fees incurred by the House of Representatives because of this matter and paid to outside counsel, Courtney Warmington.
    
12. Why was outside counsel utilized for this personnel matter instead of using the services of our House general counsel?
    
13. Under what budgetary line item can those payments to Courtney Warmington be found? 
    
14. Please explain the justification behind allocating more than $16,000 of legal payments to Ms. Bishop’s attorneys under the budgetary line item of housekeeping and cleaning supplies. 
    
15. By what legal authority can the House of Representatives indemnify Rep. Kirby for his alleged misconduct outside the scope of his authority? 
    
16. Assuming the House of Representatives would not have used taxpayer funds to pay a baseless claim against a member of the Republican caucus, has any course of disciplinary action been taken against Rep. Kirby in the form of sanctions, censure, removal, or impeachment? If not, are any such actions under consideration?
    
17. Has Rep. Kirby been asked to repay the Oklahoma taxpayers for the costs they have incurred because of his alleged misconduct outside the scope of his authority?
    
18. If a reservation of rights letter has been issued to Rep. Kirby, would you please provide a copy of it to my office?
    
19. Please provide a copy of any tort claim received by the House of Representatives.
    
20. Please provide a copy of any statement concerning these allegations provided to the House of Representatives by Ms. Bishop.
    
21. Have any other allegations of sexual misconduct or harassment been brought by members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives staff against sitting or former members of the legislature at any time in the last twelve years?

Resigned Tulsa State Rep. Dan Kirby.

Jeff Hickman is no longer a member of the legislature.

former L.A., Hollie Bishop

  Sooner Politics' own investigation seems to indicate the Speaker Hickman (who officially hires and fires House members' staff) may have seriously messed up the Hollie Bishop case by:

1. ​Ignoring the claims of the young female Legislative Assistant.
2. Subjecting her to further possible harassment by requiring her to work privately and directly with the person she claimed was abusive to her; for months more.
3. Wrongfully terminating her from employment without any stated reason.

​  For this series of management failures, Hickman exposed the taxpayers to a significant financial liability. Current employment statutes and House rules should have insured the 28 year old Legislative Assistant that she would not suffer reprisals for reporting bad workplace behavior by her job supervisor, Rep Dan Kirby. She says she was assured of this at the time she filed the harassment report.

---

Scott Inman & Jeff Hickman

  It is also evident that Rep. Kirby was informally told of the charged levied against him and who it was coming from. Kirby does not refute the claim that he failed to communicate with his aide for months and made it impossible for her to successfully complete her scheduling & correspondence duties for the legislator.
  One veteran political figure said (off the record); "You NEVER fire a person for making a sexual harassment claim. Any business leader ought to know that!"

---

  Patrick McGuigan of CapitolBeatOK contributed research to this report. His coverage is posted at CapitolBeatOK.com.