Jerry Bohnen - NewsRadio 1000 KTOK - reports that it is believed the Oklahoma Ethics Commission has launched an investigation into a 2004 fundraising effort by two officials of the legislature at the time, and the Oklahoma County Republican Party.
It's also believed that notices from the Ethics Commission have been delivered to the Capitol offices of two top State House Republicans.
A source confirms the report in the Oklahoma Political News Service that the Ethics Commission had started looking into alleged campaign donation irregularities.
KTOK has learned the irregularities might have involved tens of thousands of dollars in contributions that had been sought by two highly placed Republicans in the State House in 2004. The money, according to the contact, eventually ended up in the hands of the Oklahoma County Republican party which at the time was chaired by Oklahoma City private investment consultant Al Mertens who has yet to return an inquiry from KTOK News.
At the heart of the controversy, said the source, is whether the money ended up being used as a "directed campaign contribution." Such "directed campaign contributions," under State Ethics rules, are considered to be a violation.
When asked about the investigation, Gary Jones, Oklahoma State Republican party chairman, told KTOK's Reid Mullins on First News today that he knew nothing of the probe.
By law, Ethics Commission officials cannot confirm the existence of any such investigation. And in early stages of the Ethics investigations, only those who were allegedly and directly involved in the matter being questioned would get official notifications. Stay tuned!
-McCarville and others
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