McCurtain โCounty, Oklahoma, is facing a political โcrisis after the release ofโข an audio recordingโ containing racistโ adn threatening remarks allegedly made by county officials. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has called for the resignation of โMcCurtain County Sheriff Tommy Hanson and all members ofโ the McCurtain County โBoard โof Commissioners following the leak.
Theโข controversy centers around a recording obtained by KJRH, a CNN affiliate, which appears to capture county officials discussing โขeliminating journalists and โขexpressing racially charged sentiments. The Willingham โขfamily, the focus of reported intimidationโฃ andโ harassment byโข officials, is represented by the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend, who stated, “For nearly a year, they have suffered intimidation, ridicule and harassment based solelyโค on their efforts toโข report theโ news for McCurtain County.” The recording’s emergence has ignited calls โfor accountability and โฃraised questions about potential illegal activity.
The McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged an “ongoing inquiry into multiple notable violations” of theโ Oklahoma Security of โฃCommunications Act,which โprohibits secretly recording conversations without the consent of at least one party. Inโฃ a statement releasedโข Monday onโ Facebook, theโค Sheriff’s Office asserted the recording has not โคbeen “duly authenticated or validated” andโ indicated “preliminary details indicates that the โขmedia released audio recordingโ has, in โคfact, been altered.” Theโฃ motivation behind any potentialโ alteration is currently under โinvestigation.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office confirmed it has received the โaudio recording and isโ conducting its own investigation, according to Communications Director Phil โBacharach. The โคFBI declined to comment on whether it is involved, citing agency policy.