An Oklahoma official resigned April 19 amid an investigation into a reportedly secretly recorded discussion in which he and other county officials allegedly discussed killing reporters and lynching black people.
McCurtain County Commissioner Mark Jennings offered up a handwritten resignation letter to Republican state Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office Wednesday, Stitt spokesperson Carly Atchison confirmed to CBS News.
“Effective immediately, I, Mark Jennings, do hereby resign as McCurtain County District #2 commissioner. I will release a formal statement in the near future regarding the recent events in our county,” Jennings wrote in the letter obtained by The Oklahoman. (RELATED: LA Councilwoman Nury Martinez Resigns Over Racist Remarks)
Jennings was one of several named McCurtain County officials accused of discussing the killing and burying of two local reporters after a county Board of Commissioners meeting March 6. The alleged discussion was captured on an audio device left behind secretly by McCurtain Gazette-News reporter Bruce Willingham, News 9 reported. Willingham sought to determine whether officials in the county were holding “secret” meetings, according to the outlet.
McCurtain County District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings has resigned after allegedly being caught on a recording making violent and hateful remarks. https://t.co/JmsnCI21oi
— The Oklahoman (@TheOklahoman_) April 19, 2023
In the three hours of audio obtained by Willingham, county officials including Jennings allegedly made threatening statements regarding two local reporters. In addition, Jennings’ voice was reportedly identified as one discussing lynchings with Sheriff Kevin Clardy.
“Take them down to Mud Creek and hang them up with damned rope,” Jennings allegedly said in regards to black people. “But you can’t do that anymore. They’ve got more rights than we’ve got.”
The release of the recordings sparked protests and a statement from Gov. Stitt, who promised not to “stand idly by” on the matter. “There is simply no place for such hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially by those that serve to represent the community through their respective office,” Stitt said of the discussions.
The McCurtain County Sheriff’s office responded to the allegations April 17, saying the recording had been obtained illegally. Additionally, the sheriff’s office contended the contents of the audio recording had not been “duly authenticated or validated,” adding that a preliminary investigation revealed the recording released to the media had been “altered.”
“The motivation for doing so remains unclear at this point. That matter is actively being investigated,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
The FBI and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office have received copies of the recording and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations (OSBI) is looking into the matter.