[okpondlady]

He gets more than 7,000 a month as retirement...even though they convicted him. Figures.

In a recient poll more than 15% of people said he should keep his retirement, even though he has been convicted of making illegal campaign contributions. That is the LEAST he has done over the years.



MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK - Stipe decision stinks

[Annemieke Roell]

He also represented the people of Oklahoma very well for many years.

[peggydavis]

I agree with the dissenting justice: he violated his oath of office.

[StillwaterTownie]

So what were the shamful things he did in secret that we weren't supposed to know about?

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Schousse

He also represented the people of Oklahoma very well for many years.

Not to be argumentative Schousse, but isn't/wasn't he a crook? I know you're more in the know because I haven't lived there for years.

Seriously, and I mean that in all sincerity, what were the good things that he did?

7K a month is a lot of money if the income that retirement is based upon criminal activities. Of course, 7K a month in prison doesn't do one a lot of good but his children and spouse will benefit from it.

[nevergoingback]

I would bet he was crooked in all those years of "public service". He is a convicted/admitted felon... Pure scum in my book, doesnt deserve a pot to **** in, especially one paid for by law abiding citizens of OK. What a joke!!!

[_redbird_]

A short clip with citation below:

¶16 The Board also erred in concluding as a matter of law that Stipe's offenses violated his oath of office. The Board's "Findings in Support of Conclusions of Law" reveal that the Board's conclusion was based on conjecture and inferences based on Stipe's status as a state senator rather than upon evidentiary matter. The Board's findings were:

a) As a senior state legislator Stipe used the power and influence gained from his position to mastermind a conspiracy involving almost $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions to thirty-nine straw donors, each of whom violated the law on Stipe's behalf;

b) Stipe engaged in an elaborate scheme to cover his illegal activities, lying repeatedly about his involvement, all while serving as a lawmaker and officer of the State of Oklahoma - under Ethics Comm. v. Keating, Stipe was a state officer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

c) Stipe's actions clearly violated his loyalty oath;

d) Stipe's actions were a violation of his constitutional oath in that he swore to faithfully discharge his duties as a senator; conduct in violating election laws, whether state or federal, demonstrates indifference to the voters of Oklahoma who repeatedly returned him to office . . .

AND... with regard to his retirement...

¶19 Finally, we agree with the district court that OPERS acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to follow its own administrative policy that a violation of federal law unrelated to the duties of the office of state senator is not a violation of the senator's oath of office and would not support forfeiture of retirement benefits. In re: Matter of Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits of Paul Taliaferro, OPERS hearing No. 92-9.

AND a short clip from the WINCHESTER, C.J., dissenting,

¶2 Stipe pled guilty to three counts: one count of Conspiracy to Obstruct a Federal Election Commission investigation, a felony; one count of perjury, also a felony; and one count of conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, a misdemeanor. According to Stipe's own admission, these crimes involved an elaborate conspiracy to funnel $245,189 in illegal campaign contributions to a candidate in the 1998 election campaign for Oklahoma's Third Congressional District. To accomplish this subversion, Stipe used at least 39 straw donors, each of whom violated the law on Stipe's behalf. The Senator then attempted to cover his illegal activities by repeatedly lying to investigators about his involvement and eventually committing perjury. All these events occurred during Stipe's tenure as a State Senator.


*OSCN Found Document:STIPE v. STATE ex rel. BD. OF TRUSTEES OF OKLAHOMA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM

[Goodpasture]

He is also dying of cancer.......certainly a crooked politician, but he kept getting reelected, didn't he? From being adopted as a young child, to working his way through university, to working his way through law school, whatever you think of him today, he was one tough man in a time when there were lots of tough men.....and he was tougher than most. The movie about his life will be worth watching.

[okpondlady]

The one thing I can and will say in his defense (sort of), he is only the one that was caught and/or convicted. Believe me, he was far from the only one guilty of the things he was involved in. I honestly believe in circumstances like this most of the time there are more than one person that is the crooked party. Southeastern Oklahoma has a long history of crooked officials. I love living here though.

[Goodpasture]

Of course it does. SE OK has ALWAYS been at the forefront of political corruption.

I am not trying to defend Gene or Francis. I find their actions inexcusable, and he SHOULD have been sent up several years ago.

But I will not begrudge a man his accomplishments in one area when I fervently disagree with what he has done in other areas.

One area I feel he has failed the people of Oklahoma, and it isn't a crime, but it is immoral........Gene owns several title companies. We don't do title insurance here...we still abstract. Why? Because every time it came up, he used his political connections to keep us in the old archaic system. We still abstract, to the tune of (frequently) several thousands of dollars to do a title search. A title insurance company costs a couple of hundred. This archaic system is costing home buyers thousands of excess closing costs each year....why? So Stipe could maintain his income stream from title searches. Unconscionable.