Oklahoma
Oklahoma official who discussed killing reporters resigns
A county commissioner in far southeast Oklahoma who was apparently caught on tape discussing killing reporters and lynching Black individuals has resigned from workplace
IDABEL, Okla. — A county commissioner in far southeast Oklahoma who was apparently caught on tape discussing killing reporters and lynching Black individuals has resigned from workplace, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s workplace confirmed Wednesday.
Stitt spokesperson Carly Atchison stated the workplace obtained a handwritten resignation letter from McCurtain County Commissioner Mark Jennings. In it, Jennings says he’s resigning instantly and stated he deliberate to launch a proper assertion “within the close to future relating to the latest occasions in our county.”
The threatening feedback by Jennings and officers with the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Workplace have been obtained and reported by McCurtain Gazette-Information. They’ve sparked outrage and protests within the metropolis of Idabel.
In a put up on the sheriff’s workplace Fb web page on Tuesday, officers didn’t deal with the recorded dialogue however claimed the recording was illegally obtained.
Additionally on Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed it has launched an investigation into the matter on the request of the governor.