Three TABOR Figures Named In Indictments

A multicounty grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday in Oklahoma County District Court names three prominent figures in the failed effort to get a taxpayer bill of rights on last year's general election ballot.

Tulsan Rick M. Carpenter, president of Oklahomans in Action, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the state and one count of filing a false, fraudulent, felonious and fictitious initiative petition. Oklahomans in Action circulated the initiative petition for a constitutional amendment.

Susan E. Johnson, president of National Voter Outreach, and Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge were charged with conspiracy to defraud the state.

National Voter Outreach, a Nevada corporation, was responsible for the circulation and signature collection process, according to the indictment. National Voter Outreach was paid by Carpenter and Jacob for signatures gathered in support of the TABOR petition, according to the indictment.

Johnson said she was "absolutely innocent" of the charge.

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