A recent article published in the Journal Record outlined Rinehart’s guilty plea regarding illegal campaign contributions. Rinehart was involved in what attorney Drew Edmondson referred to as a “simple scheme” to hide illegally received campaign funds. The funds were received during Rinehart’s 2004 campaign run for office here in Oklahoma. Though Rinehart still chalks Edmondson’s pursuit up to a blatant political witch hunt, he still plead guilty to the charges.
“In the plea submitted in Oklahoma County District Court, Rinehart confirmed he had accepted campaign contributions exceeding the legal cap of $5,000. After denying the charges for more than two years, Rinehart was given a three-year deferred sentence and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.”
Even though Rinehart stated that the plea was taken in an effort to keep a campaign promise of not wasting the taxpayer dollars, I believe that whatever the decision was; whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent there is never room for corruption. Edmondson’s pursuit of this case was right regardless of cost. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to dirty politics, and prosecution at the state and local levels is a good start. Now, let us hope the federal level takes Oklahoma’s lead and pursues organizations like ACORN to the fullest extent of the law.
As for Rinehart’s comments about a political witch hunt, Edmondson offices had this to say:
“District attorney spokesman Charlie Price said the plea completes the state’s prosecution. No further comment was provided.”
Take that corruption!
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