Oklahoma Watch digs into money used in Joy Hofmeister's campaign – KOCO Oklahoma City

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OKLAHOMA CITY —

Charges brought against the Oklahoma State Superintendent and four others involved in her campaign are raising concerns about the ‘dark money’ groups involved in state politics.

Court documents alleged Joy Hofmeister and her staff were coordinating contributions and ads directed by Oklahomans for Public School Excellence.

Court documents cite texts and email communications between several people, including the four charged. They are political strategists Robert Fount Hollander and Stephanie Dawn Milligan, and Oklahoma Education Association Executive Director Lela Odom and Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration director Steven Crawford.

An investigative report by the Oklahoma Watch was also mentioned in the documents, including when a reporter for the agency began questioning whether Hofmeister had connections to the OPSE.

Oklahoma Watch Executive Editor David Fritze said their investigation attempted to find out who had contributed to OPSE and who was behind it.

“This dark money group had not filed organization papers,” he said.

Hofmeister’s camp denied any connections.

“It appears our questions were not fully answered,” Fritze said.

He said the impact “dark money” groups have in our elections and who’s behind the political adds should be public knowledge to voters before they vote.

“When they go into the polling place, they should know exactly what they are voting on and who’s behind it,” he said. “You need to look at what money is supporting what candidate. And you need to ask yourself, ’Why can I not know where certain money is coming from a candidate?’”

Hofmeister and Holland did not return KOCO 5’s calls. Milligan and Crawford could not be reached for comment.

Current leaders of CCOSA declined to issue a statement.

The OEA issued the following statement:

“In its 127 year history, the Oklahoma Education Association has advocated ethically and honorably for Oklahoma public schools, students, and education professionals. We are disappointed to see that charges have been filed against former OEA Executive Director Lela Odom, but we firmly believe that when this matter is resolved, she will be cleared of any wrongdoing. In the meantime, OEA will continue our work to advance public education for the benefit of all Oklahoma students.”

Odom’s attorney Dan Webber said, ““I am confident that when all the facts are presented Lela Odom will be exonerated.”

Dr. Janet Barresi decline an on camera interview, only saying “I will let the charge speak for itself. I appreciate the diligence and professionalism demonstrated by District Attorney Prater and his staff.”

Prater declined to speak to KOCO 5 on camera.

WEBVTT

PATTY: WHAT THIS 28 PAGE REPORT
ALLEGES IS THAT THERE WAS
ILLEGAL COORDINATION GOING ON
BETWEEN JOY HOFMEISTER AND AN
OUTSIDE GROUP AGAINST HER
OPPONENT.
IT APPEARS THIS IS ONGOING IN
OKLAHOMA POLITICS, BUT IT IS
DIFFICULT TO PROVE.
>> YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT
MONEY IS SUPPORTING WHAT
CANDIDATE, AND WHERE IT IS
COMING FROM.
PATTY: OKLAHOMA WATCH EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR DAVID FRITZE SAYS
BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES ARE ALL
IMPACTED BY WHO THESE DARK MONEY
GROUPS BENEFIT.
>> THEY GO INTO THE POLLING
PLACE TO VOTE, THEY SHOULD KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE VOTING ON
AND WHO IS BEHIND IT.
PATTY: AN INVESTIGATION BY
OKLAHOMA WATCH IS MENTIONED
THE AFFIDAVIT FILED ACCUSING JOY
, HOFMEISTER OF CAMPAIGN
VIOLATIONS.
>> WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO WAS RUNNING THIS DARK MONEY
GROUP.
PATTY: THEIR INVESTIGATION
RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN HOFMEISTER
AND THE PAC GROUP, OKLAHOMANS
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EXCELLENCE.
>> THEY WANT IT TO BE CONFUSING,
ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN POLICY, THEY WANTED TO BE OK.
— OPAQUE.
PATTY: DOCUMENTS SAY LEADERS
WITH THE COOPERATIVE COUNCIL FOR
OKLAHOMA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
AND OKLAHOMA EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION WERE ALSO IN ON THE
ILLEGAL COORDINATION.
>> THE INVOLVEMNT OF BIG MONEY
IN POLITICS TODAY IS A PRESSING
ISSUE AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO
KNOW MORE.
PATTY: FORMER OEA EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR LELA ODOM IS CHARGED,
THE ORGANIZATION AND HER
ATTORNEY BOTH SAY THEY A
CONFIDENT SHE WILL BE CLEARED OF
— EXONERATED.
HOFMEISTER’S ATTORNEY DID NOT
RETURN OUR CALLS.

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