Oklahoman: Phipps-Stipe Investigation Could Be Expanded To Include State, Edmondson Says

The Oklahoman reports in its Sunday edition that Attorney General Drew Edmondson may pursue charges in the campaign finance scandal swirling around southeastern Oklahoma abstract company owner Steve Phipps and his partner, former Senator Gene Stipe.

Reporter Nolan Clay writes that Edmondson confirmed a meeting with U. S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling about the federal investigation into the straw donor scheme and has "offered our services," Edmondson said.

It's a significant development since some campaign finance violations would not be covered under federal law, but would be covered under Oklahoma law.

The federal probe results are being presented to a grand jury sitting in Muskogee with investigative work being handled by the FBI.

Thus far, alleged illegal donations to the campaigns of Governor Brad Henry Henry, Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, former State Rep. Mike Mass and Congressman Dan Boren have been revealed. The donations are tied to associates of Phipps and Stipe, whose abstract company empire is regulated by McMahan. He, Henry and Boren say they had no idea that tens of thousands of dollars came into their campaigns from straw donors, or those given the money to donate by others.

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