Drew's Selective Prosecution

In an excellent letter to the editor published today in The Oklahoman, Aaron Ramberg of Oklahoma City makes the case that "Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is more concerned with trumping up charges against those he disagrees with, as he did with Paul Jacob, Susan Elizabeth Johnson and Richard Merrill Carpenter — better known as the 'Oklahoma Three' — than he is with prosecuting real fraud."

The Oklahoma Three assert their constitutional rights to petition the government for a redress of grievances. They're charged with defrauding the state, while political friends of Edmondson defraud the state and no one seems to notice until the federal government, investigating an unrelated matter, finds gross irregularities in a broader scheme.

How was Edmondson unaware of the fraudulent activities of men who've been convicted or indicted like former state Sen. Gene Stipe, State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, businessman Steve Phipps and who knows how many others that the federal government has had to come in and clean house? The federal government shouldn't have had to do the dirty work; the state should have uncovered them long before.

Edmondson has little credibility to lead an office that should be conducted with the utmost integrity. With Edmondson giving back thousands of campaign dollars tied to those who've been indicted, he should step aside.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Three will be in town Monday afternoon at 1:30 for arraignment at the Oklahoma County courthouse, 321 Park Avenue in Oklahoma City. Their supporters have scheduled a noon news conference outside the courthouse. Come show your support.