Governor Stitt Calls for Resignations of Four McCurtain County Officials After Alleged Racist Remarks and Discussion of Killing Journalists

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is calling for the resignations of four McCurtain County officials after an audio recording was released that allegedly captured them making racist remarks and discussing the killing of journalists.

The audio recording was obtained legally by the McCurtain Gazette-News and released over the weekend. It appears to capture one of the four officials making racist comments about Black people and discussing the possibility of hiring hit men to kill two of the paper’s journalists.

In a statement Sunday, Governor Stitt said he was “both appalled and disheartened” by the comments made by the officials. He is seeking the resignations of McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, Sheriff’s Capt. Alicia Manning, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings, and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix.

The McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office has said that the audio was illegally recorded and is investigating.

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for the officials to be held accountable for their actions. It is unclear at this time what action will be taken against the officials, but Governor Stitt’s call for their resignations is a strong indication that he does not condone their behavior.