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Tres Savage

Dec 17 • 8 tweets • 3 min read

One year ago today, I had to derail an important date because a grand jury indicted an #okleg member.

The stress of racing to the courthouse, getting the filing, ruining dinner and writing up a story could hardly portend the drama that would unfold. (1/8) nondoc.com/2021/12/17/rep…

Over 5 months, I wrote 5 more articles on the charges against Rep. Terry O’Donnell & his wife related to his bill that allowed her to become a tag agent.

In this one, Gov. Stitt & Sen. Thompson confirmed the House said HB 2098 was a 2019 "priority." (2/8)
nondoc.com/2022/01/07/ter…

Tugging on the O’Donnell thread revealed other bad behavior.

On Jan. 27, I outlined the O’Donnell investigation's origin and compared his GJ indictment w/ the MCGJ indictment that was ultimately dismissed against David Ostrowe.

Enter: Mike Hunter. (3/8)
nondoc.com/2022/01/27/pra…

Hours after that story published, I received a call about SB 984. The person alleged Mike Hunter had threatened to prosecute O’Donnell in 2021 and had asked Speaker Charles McCall (O’Donnell’s close friend) to stop his SB 984.

I spent 2+ months seeking any other explanation ...

… but there was no other explanation why SB 984 had stalled in the House.

While reporting this story, a campaign of slander & intimidation began against me. A woman who formerly did PR for Hunter (and currently works for others) helped spread those lies. nondoc.com/2022/04/07/mik…

Days after my story dropped on the bill stalling, SB 984 (which proposed transparency requirements & contingency fee caps on state contracts with private law firms) suddenly started moving again.

It passed the #okleg, was signed by Stitt and became law Nov. 1.

Truly wild. (6/8)

Next, I wrote a story on why O'Donnell had to run his 2019 tag agent bill: Sen. Greg Treat had stripped the proposal from a 2018 bill.

“I am from Catoosa, Oklahoma,” Treat said. “I was aware of who his mother in law was.”

It involved a 1978 murder. (7/8)
nondoc.com/2022/05/12/the…

In conclusion? There's no conclusion yet. The O’Donnells face a 2023 trial. Rumors are swirling that new AG Gentner Drummond may try to take over the O’Donnell prosecution… which could further politicize an absurd political situation.

I'll keep reporting. Thx for reading! (8/8)

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More from @ThriceSavage

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Dec 16

The #OKcounty Courthouse is in lockdown after a reported noise that could have been potential gunshots on the 3rd floor.

My understanding is no one has been located but that courtrooms have been locked down for folks' safety. I'll try to update this thread if I learn more. (1/?)

The Oklahoman is reporting that someone was seen carrying a gun in the parking garage just across the street to the north of the courthouse. oklahoman.com/story/news/cri…

An attorney who is in one of the locked-down courtrooms has told me that the judge told the room that the threat stemmed from a man with binoculars, camouflage and a rifle.

Read 4 tweets

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Oct 11

@joy4ok

Leaders of the #FiveTribes have gathered to announce their endorsement of @joy4ok for governor. Former Stitt secretary of Native American affairs is emceeing. Cherokee Chief @ChuckHoskin_Jr is up first.

It's no secret that Gov. Kevin Stitt has clashed with and angered tribes ...

Hoskin speaks of the importance of #oklaed and the #Cherokee Nation's history of educational priorities. He calls Hofmeister "a dedicated education professional" who understands "the very Cherokee idea of working together." (2/?)

Flashing back in time, briefly, I mentioned when former #okleg Republican representative Lisa Billy resigned from the Stitt cabinet in December 2019, less than a year after taking the post and watching him clash with tribal leaders over gaming compacts. nondoc.com/2019/12/23/lis…

Read 11 tweets

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Jul 31, 2021

@JoshWestOKHD5

Another condemnation of OKGOP Chairman John Bennett, this time from Rep. @JoshWestOKHD5, a former #okleg colleague and a fellow veteran. Note the #2018CW hashtag at the end. Amusing!

Let my next couple tweets take you down memory lane... #thread

The #2018CW tag refers to the campaign "Civil War" that sprung up around the historic revenue raising package that funded #oklaed raises, et al.

MR in the Facebook post = Mike Ritze, a Broken Arrow GOP Rep. who constantly talked about how many babies he delivered as a doc. (2/?)

Ritze annoyed some #okleg colleagues who griped privately that they believed he drove down to the Capitol on Thursdays to check in (and receive more per diem) but then leave quickly and not stay for all the day's work.

I can't say if that was exactly true, but Ritze made some 🙄

Read 7 tweets

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Jul 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/McAlesterNews/status/1421210022466527232

A man identifying as "Robert" called me from a blocked number to say I should write that #OKGOP Chairman John Bennett must resign over this.

I asked if he would say that on the record. He declined. I'm 99% sure the caller is a currently Republican #okleg member. So... (1/?)

https://twitter.com/McAlesterNews/status/1421210022466527232

@nondocmedia

I decided to check my email inbox to see if any Republican politician in Oklahoma had issued a statement about this situation, and I did not see any.

Then, I decided to check out the trusty ol' @nondocmedia Twitter list of #Oklahoma lawmakers: twitter.com/i/lists/902228… (2/?)

On the Twitter list, I still haven't seen any GOP #okleg members condemning the comparison of COVID-19 vaccine requirements to an atrocity perpetrated against #Jewish people.

One senator is sad about the Cubs trading away players. A rep. earlier retweeted an OU video. (3/?)

Read 10 tweets

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Jul 30, 2021

The #OU Board of Regents has started its meeting. Here's a look at today's packed house of local and national media. People like football. #Big12 #SEC (1/3)

@RepMarkMcBride

For those who may not have followed the #OU Board of Regents extensively, @RepMarkMcBride has once again exercised his #okleg authority to enter today's executive session as an observer. Here he is being patted on the back by Regent Eric Stevenson as Sean Burrage grins. #oklaed

Lastly, it's no secret that I have committed my #OUDNA to covering every meeting of the #OU Board of Regents for the foreseeable future. My articles can be found here. nondoc.com/tag/ou-board-o…

Read 14 tweets

Tres Savage

@ThriceSavage

Jul 28, 2021

Posted up at the #Oklahoma Development Finance Authority again today because I lover #bankers and also figure the $4 billion #securitization program of February's #okwx-related utility debt should be monitored.

Buckle up for a thread!

Board member Bridger Cox and Secretary Brent Kisling are not in attendance today. Chairman Roger Wagner introduces a woman named Katherine (Catherine?) to go over financials. Says "over the last 11 months, ODFA has held an average cash balance of $9.1 million."

"The current balance sheet is very in line with our budgeted balance sheet," she says, adding that composition of general fund revenue has changed. Gone from $104,000 to $213,000 in closing cost revenue year to year.

Interest rate has declined on cash balance.

Lotta money.