Victim of political pressure
by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief
Today in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Democratic Party held a press conference to call for an investigation into the conduct of Governor Fallin, Fallin's general counsel Steve Mullins, and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as a result of a report released yesterday by The Frontier and the Dallas Morning News.
The report indicates that Governor Fallin interfered in an official investigation of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. The report further indicates that this was done at the request of former Texas Governor Rick Perry who received campaign contributions from the subject of said investigation.
“There is more a stake here than the interests of the doctor or even of the medical board which is designated to protect the public,” said Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hammons. “What about the patients? If Governor’s Perry and Fallin make a backroom deal, then who protects the patients?
“When the Governor’s office says ‘we’re going to help one doctor’ - the doctor who is a political supporter and friend of Governor Perry then this Governor’s office is saying, we don’t care.”
Hammons said there are many agencies who could be involved investigating this case, but it does not need to be anyone from Governor Fallin’s office or Scott Pruitt’s office. Hammons has called for an independent investigation to determine if any laws were broken.
“The board memos say he [Anagnost] brought up Governor Perry and Governor Fallin and claimed that Governor Fallin wanted to satisfy Governor Perry because she was tired of getting phone calls,” Hammons added.
“Anagnost came to use with the documents in hopes to clear his name,” said Zia Branstetter, Editor in Chief of The Frontier, a web-based news source in Tulsa. “Either way, he wants the issue resolved.”
The doctor has been under investigation for three years, which the Oklahoma Supreme Court lists concerns that this implicates the due process for Anagnost.
This three-year investigation has cost state taxpayers more than $600,000. Now the state has suddenly dropped its case to revoke Anagnost’s license.
“This was a highly publicized case and we received a calls from a lot of people and one of those were Rick Perry,” said Alex Weintz, spokesperson for Governor Fallin’s office adding, "Perry’s call was to help expedite settling the case.
“It was never the intent of the Governor or the doctor to have the case dropped,” added Weintz. “The Governor said to the board, ‘do your job.’ If he is a bad actor and he is hurting patients, sanction him. If you don’t it’s time for the investigation to come to an end.
“According to what we have seen reported from the medical board, they were the victim of political pressure - and you don't prosecute victims,” Hammons said in conclusion.
Copyright – The Gayly. 11/05/2015 @ 11:52 a.m. CST