Benge Names McMahan Probe Panel Members

House Speaker Chris Benge this afternoon named the members of the Special Investigating Committee which will see if impeachment proceedings are warranted against indicted Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan.

The action came after the House passed a resolution approving the investigation by a vote of 100 to 0. Former Speaker Lance Cargill was the only House member not present for the vote.

The committee members are: Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs; Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview; Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa; Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City; Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus; Rep. James Covey, D-Custer City; Rep. Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo; and Rep. Dale Turner, D-Holdenville.

Six of the eight were mentioned as possible panelists last week by The McCarville Report Online.

The committee is similar to one that voted to impeach former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher in 2004. Fisher resigned before his impeachment trial started in the Senate.

McMahan and his wife, Lori, have been indicted on federal charges of mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy.

If the investigating committee recommends removal, the full House will vote on articles of impeachment, which, if approved, will then move to the Senate for a trial.

“It is imperative that this committee be as thorough and nonpartisan as possible as it takes up this serious task,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.

“The charges against the State Auditor and Inspector are very serious,” said Democrat Leader Danny Morgan, D- Prague. “It is our Constitutional duty to investigate and ensure that the integrity of Oklahoma’s government remains intact.”

Reps. Braddock and Duncan are co-chairmen of the committee.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It is important for these proceedings to be conducted in a bipartisan manner,” said Braddock. “I am happy to work with Rex Duncan and the rest of the committee to get to the bottom of these allegations.”

“I take this responsibility very seriously,” said Duncan, who is chairman of the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. “We must have a process the people of Oklahoma can trust. The process is more important than the outcome.”

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