Rinehart, Pope Post Bail, Declare Innocence

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart and former State Rep. Tim Pope posted bail on felony charges today and declared they are innocent.

They arrived at the Oklahoma County complex in mid-morning accompanied by attorneys. A sheriff's deputy appeared to be escorting Rinehart. When they failed to appear yesterday, warrants were issued for their arrests.

Rinehart and Pope face multiple felony charges as the result of a probe by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation into the financing of Rinehart's 2004 campaign, which Pope, a political consultant, managed.

Rinehart surprised fellow commissioners when he appeared at a meeting to declare he is innocent of the "political" charges.

Three others (see story below) also face charges, although they are less serious than those facing Rinehart and Pope.

Rinehart faces 10 felony counts; Pope faces eight felony counts.

Share |