They always seem to have their hand in the cookie jar, don't they:
A state representative was accused Friday in a grand jury indictment of misusing his power to change the law so his wife could become a tag agent.
Terry O'Donnell is charged in the indictment with five felonies and three misdemeanors. "He denies any wrongdoing," his attorney, Mack Martin, said.
His wife, Teresa O'Donnell, faces three felonies and one misdemeanor.
The most severe offense, conspiracy against the state, has a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
An Oklahoma County grand jury returned the indictment Friday.
O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, is the second highest-ranking member of the House.
He introduced a bill in 2019 that allowed spouses of legislators to serve as tag agents.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission appointed his wife to take over the Catoosa Tag Agency on Aug. 1, 2019, three months after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the bill into law.
The lawmaker told The Oklahoman last year he did not do anything wrong or inappropriate.
He said his wife had no intention of becoming a tag agent when he ran "this piece of legislation." He said she sought the appointment after her mother died unexpectedly from pancreatic cancer.
Her mother, Georgia McAfee, had been in charge of the Catoosa Tag Agency for more than 40 years. Teresa O'Donnell had worked there for more than four years before her appointment.
Grand jurors alleged the two submitted a fraudulent application to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
Commissioners were told she managed the daily operation of the office and supervised four clerks when she actually was only a part-time worker with no supervisory authority, grand jurors alleged.
One of the oft- proven principles of Republicanism is that government only serves as a means of enriching yourself or your sponsors ("comfort the comfortable, afflict the afflicted"). Seems to be alive and well in Oklahoma.
O'Donnell put out a statement saying, in part, that he and his wife "will vigorously defend our integrity." Well, that shouldn't be a very long or strong defense.
The family that lies and grafts together hopefully goes to jail together.
(Photo: State Rep. Terry O'Donnell in less felonious times/ Michael Duncan, nondoc.com)
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