Coates: Stolen Material 'Taken Out Of Context'

By John Greiner, The Oklahoman ~ A Senate investigation is under way into the theft of the personal e-mail file of Sen. Harry Coates, an opponent of the state's immigration law, he said Thursday.

Coates, R-Seminole, who opposed House Bill 1804 — the state immigration law — said his file on the issue disappeared from his Senate office about two weeks ago.

Contents of the file are being "leaked online a few pages at a time,” Coates said.

"Some of the material has been taken out of context with the rather obvious purpose of embarrassing anyone who dares to defy those who relish the thought of ridding our state of people who speak another language, legal or not,” Coates said.

{Christopher Arps of the Oklahoma Political News Service which published the emails, said, "If Senator Coates thinks the documents are quoted out of context, then I implore him and everyone else who is interested, to go to www.okpns.com and read Senator Coates' comments for themselves."}

He said he's concerned this is an attack at those in business and at the capitol who question whether HB 1804 is going to cause more harm than good.

In February, a lawsuit was filed in federal court over the immigration law by several business groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The State Chamber and Oklahoma City and Tulsa chambers of commerce. They claimed the law undermines federal immigration law and places unreasonable burdens on state businesses.

Coates said he doesn't think any legislators are involved in taking the file. Instead, he said he believes a small group of fanatics are responsible for leaking the information.

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