Stipe Sent To Federal Medical Facility

U.S. District Judge Ronald White today ordered former Senator Gene Stipe to report to a federal medical center in Springfield, Mo., for as much as 30 days of mental competency testing.

The action came during a hearing on whether Stipe's federal probation should be revoked.

Stipe needed prompting to respond to questions during the hearing.

Stipe is serving probation on a federal campaign fundraising violation. The FBI alleges Stipe started a similar illegal fundraising scheme soon after he was convicted.

Stipe appeared at Tuesday's hearing in a wheelchair and carrying two canes, and he had a difficult time responding to questions about the nature of the courtroom process, the Tulsa World reported. That led White to order Stipe to report to the federal facility on September 6th for evaluation of his mental competency. Clark Brewster, attorney for Stipe, objected to White's order, arguing an independent medical expert should review Stipe's medical files instead.

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