Key Asks: Has AG Read the Constitution?
Reynolds Sees Double Standard in AG’s Action

Two more Oklahoma state legislators have come out in support of the Oklahoma 3 and have questioned Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s handling of the case.

State Rep. Charles Key left no doubt where he stood in his October 9th press release: “Our attorney general is treating the constitutions of this country and this state like so much tissue paper to sneeze on.”

Key called the prosecution of the Oklahoma 3 “a grotesque abuse of Edmondson’s office.”

“Apparently Drew Edmondson is more schooled in power politics and trampling the rights of the innocent people than in his basic obligation to uphold the law,” said Key, R-Oklahoma City. “Four times now Mr. Edmondson has taken an oath of office to ’support, obey and defend’ the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma — and to discharge his duties to the ‘best of his ability.’

“You shouldn’t make that vow if you’re not acquainted with the documents you are vowing to defend.” Key continued. “But how you can read them without seeing the parts about the right of citizens to petition their government and the right of Oklahoma citizens to act to bring an initiative question to ballot?

“And how can you defend these constitutionally protected rights by grasping at some trumped-up technicality to try to destroy innocent people for their good-faith efforts in helping Oklahoma citizens to exercise those rights?”

State Rep. Mike Reynolds also came to the defense of the Oklahoma 3. “Where is this attorney general coming from?” asked Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “Is he following a discernible legal principle or just his political preferences?”

Reynolds was referring to Edmondson’s request to the State Court of Appeals to defer executions while a challenge to the death penalty is pending, even as he plowed full-steam ahead with prosecutions of the Oklahoma 3, despite a pending court challenge to the statute they are accused of violating.

“Obviously, this isn’t about justice and objective law. Our attorney general doesn’t like the death penalty. He also doesn’t like the constitutionally protected right of citizen initiative. And he clearly doesn’t care about the guilt or innocence of those involved.”

Click this link to read Rep. Key’s full press release.

Click this link to read Rep. Reynold’s full press release.