CNN
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Oklahoma's governor is calling on four McCurtain County officials to resign after they allegedly participated in a secretly recorded conversation that included racist remarks about the lynching of blacks and talk of killing journalists.
The McCurtain Gazette-News published audio over the weekend that it said was recorded after the March 6 Board of Commissioners meeting.
The newspaper reported that the audio recording of the meeting was obtained through legal means, but the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office said in its report. statement that it was illegally recorded and an investigation is underway. The sheriff's office also said it believes the recording was altered.
“I am both shocked and disappointed to learn of the appalling comments made by McCurtain County officials,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement Sunday. “There is simply no place for this kind of hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially from those who represent the community through their offices. I will not stand idly by while this happens,” the statement said.
The governor called for the immediate resignations of McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings, Sheriff's Investigator Alicia Manning and jail administrator Larry Hendricks. He also said he would ask the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to look into the case.
McCurtain County is in southeastern Oklahoma, about 200 miles from Oklahoma City.
The recording came hours after Gazette-News reporter Chris Willingham filed a lawsuit against the sheriff's office, Manning and the Board of County Commissioners, alleging they defamed him and violated his civil rights, the newspaper reported.
In the recording, Manning talked about having to go to the newspaper office and expressed concern about what would happen if she ran into Willingham. Oklahoma State This was reported with reference to additional information from the Gazette-News newspaper.
According to the Oklahoman's report, Jennings said, “Oh, you mean you can't control yourself?” and Manning responded, “Yeah, I'm not worried about what he'll do to me. I'm worried about what I might do to him. My dad would kick his ass, wipe him down and use him as toilet paper… if my dad hadn't been hit by a car, he'd be there.”
Jennings responded that one day his father was upset about something published in the newspaper and “started going in there and just killing it,” according to the Gazette-News.
“I know where the two big, deep holes are if you ever need them,” Jennings allegedly said. Clardy, the sheriff, allegedly said he had the equipment.
“I have a backhoe,” Clardy is accused of saying during the debate. “Well, they’re already pre-dug,” Jennings allegedly said.
In other parts of the recording, officials expressed disappointment that black people could no longer be lynched, according to the newspaper.
CNN was unable to verify the authenticity of the recording or confirm who said what. CNN has reached out to all four county officials for comment.
The Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association voted Tuesday to suspend the memberships of Clardy, Manning and Hendricks, the group's executive director told CNN.
State and local authorities investigating
Willingham and his father Bruce Willingham, a newspaper publisher, were advised to leave town temporarily. CNN affiliate KJRH reported.
“For nearly a year, they have been intimidated, ridiculed and harassed solely because of their attempts to report news for McCurtain County,” Kilpatrick Townsend, the law firm representing the Willingham family, told CNN.
The McCurtain County Sheriff's Office said. statement It said Monday that “an ongoing investigation into multiple serious violations” of the Oklahoma Security Communications Act, which makes it “illegal to secretly record a conversation in which you are not a participant and do not have the consent of at least one of the parties involved.” It also says the recording has not yet been “properly certified or verified.”
“Our preliminary information indicates that the audio recording published by the media has in fact been altered. The motivation for this remains unclear at this time. This matter is actively being investigated,” the statement said.
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has obtained the audio and is investigating, said communications director Phil Bacharach.
The FBI would not confirm or deny its involvement in the investigation, and spokeswoman Kayla McCleary said it was agency policy not to comment.
