Jones Says Donations Legitimate
Enid attorney Stephen Jones said a published report in The Oklahoman suggesting he tried to buy an Oklahoma County judge’s race is incorrect. He told the Enid News & Eagle he made contributions to several friends who were running for office this year.
In published reports, former Oklahoma County District Judge Susan Caswell claims Jones illegally provided large donations that helped Bill Graves defeat her in the November election. (Editor's Note: Caswell made no such claim; she is quoted as saying she's perplexed by the interest of out-of-county interests in her campaign.)
The donations reportedly are under investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the state Ethics Commission. Jones said he has not been contacted by anyone regarding the investigation except the media. Jones himself is not listed as a contributor, but his wife, Sherrel, and his son and daughter are listed as contributors, along with four attorneys who work in his firm.
Six Texans who reportedly are associated with a client of Jones’, Dallas businessman Gene Phillips, also made contributions to Graves. Graves reported receiving nearly $60,000 from those sources, according to the published report.
The investigation centers on whether the donations were illegal, and Jones maintains they are not.
“I know what the law is. I’m lawyered up on the subject. They aren’t against the law. Anybody who knows what the law is, knows the story is incorrect,” Jones said.
Jones said Caswell is disappointed she lost the election. He said Bill Graves has been a family friend for 30 years. Jones has helped a number of family friends who have run for office. He is a member of the Oklahoma Republican State Finance Committee, and it is part of his job to raise money for Re-publican candidates.
“His race is not the only one I’m interested in. I was involved in about 60 races,” he said.
Jones and his wife, Sherrel, also contributed $2,500 each to the campaign of Dennis Hladik, who was elected to a Garfield County district judgeship. Jones family members also were regular large contributors on the federal level. In 2006, Sherrel Jones and Stephen Jones are listed as donating $10,000 to the Oklahoma Leadership Council. Jones also contributed $5,000 to the Cole PAC, and he and Sherrel both donated $2,100 each to Mary Fallin’s congressional campaign.
He said he also contributed to judicial candidates in Dallas County, Texas, whom he thought were outstanding. He also contributed to friends across the state.“This seemed to be a year where a lot of my friends were running,” he said.
In published reports, former Oklahoma County District Judge Susan Caswell claims Jones illegally provided large donations that helped Bill Graves defeat her in the November election. (Editor's Note: Caswell made no such claim; she is quoted as saying she's perplexed by the interest of out-of-county interests in her campaign.)
The donations reportedly are under investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the state Ethics Commission. Jones said he has not been contacted by anyone regarding the investigation except the media. Jones himself is not listed as a contributor, but his wife, Sherrel, and his son and daughter are listed as contributors, along with four attorneys who work in his firm.
Six Texans who reportedly are associated with a client of Jones’, Dallas businessman Gene Phillips, also made contributions to Graves. Graves reported receiving nearly $60,000 from those sources, according to the published report.
The investigation centers on whether the donations were illegal, and Jones maintains they are not.
“I know what the law is. I’m lawyered up on the subject. They aren’t against the law. Anybody who knows what the law is, knows the story is incorrect,” Jones said.
Jones said Caswell is disappointed she lost the election. He said Bill Graves has been a family friend for 30 years. Jones has helped a number of family friends who have run for office. He is a member of the Oklahoma Republican State Finance Committee, and it is part of his job to raise money for Re-publican candidates.
“His race is not the only one I’m interested in. I was involved in about 60 races,” he said.
Jones and his wife, Sherrel, also contributed $2,500 each to the campaign of Dennis Hladik, who was elected to a Garfield County district judgeship. Jones family members also were regular large contributors on the federal level. In 2006, Sherrel Jones and Stephen Jones are listed as donating $10,000 to the Oklahoma Leadership Council. Jones also contributed $5,000 to the Cole PAC, and he and Sherrel both donated $2,100 each to Mary Fallin’s congressional campaign.
He said he also contributed to judicial candidates in Dallas County, Texas, whom he thought were outstanding. He also contributed to friends across the state.“This seemed to be a year where a lot of my friends were running,” he said.
Labels: Bill Graves, Ethics, Jim Cardle, Just The Facts America, Kim Holland, Multicounty Grand Jury, Stephen Jones, Susan Caswell
posted by Mike McCarville @ 4:08 PM
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