One of the architects of the model gaming compact Oklahoma voters approved in 2004 told The Frontier and KOSU that Stitt should have gotten approval from the Legislature before using the money for lawsuits with the tribes.Īttorney Scott Meacham worked under Gov. Tribes pay more than $1 million a year into the gaming compliance fund. The money to pay legal fees came from the state’s gaming compliance fund, a separate pot of money from the exclusivity fees the tribes pay the state for the rights to run gaming operations in Oklahoma. The figure, which is more than previously reported, comes from state payment records reviewed by The Frontier.
More than $1.9 million in gaming compliance program funds was paid to outside law firms representing the governor in legal actions over the past three years. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he is looking into whether the funds were properly used to pay for legal counsel for Gov. The money came from annual fees tribal nations pay the state to regulate gaming operations in Oklahoma.
Kevin Stitt in legal fights with the tribes, payment records show. Nearly $2 million in state money meant to ensure Oklahoma is receiving its cut from tribal gaming operations was used to pay law firms representing Gov.
