HD92 Race Heats Up; Claims of DUI, IRS Audit, Ethics Fine

By Jason Doyle Oden

The House District 92 race is heating up as Joe Griffin publishes legal, tax and ethics issues his opponent Forrest Bennett is facing. The seat is open because Rep. Richard Morrissette is term-limited.

joe-griffinGriffin has sent a mailer which outlines documents related to a DUI with a minor involving Bennett, an IRS investigation into Bennett’s non-profit, and a fine for an Ethics Commission violation.

The DUI took place in April 2012 in Bartlesville. However, a search of online court records failed to find any state complaints filed against Bennett. The case was likely handled through the Bartlesville municipal court which does not have online records available.

In Griffin’s campaign flier, he contends the non-profit, Bennett Foundation for Public Service, raised thousands of dollars, but never filed taxes with the IRS. He has a letter posted from the IRS informing Bennett that an audit of the foundation is underway. There’s an additional letter stating that the foundation’s federal tax exemption was automatically revoked in May 2016.

Additionally, Griffin posted a picture of an Ethics Commission list of lobbyists who had compliance fines. Bennett’s fine was $200 for a late filing fee.

However, Bennett said Griffin is playing politics as usual instead of talking about issues.

forrest-bennett“These claims by my opponent are simply false. While I’m not perfect and have made mistakes, I’ve learned from my past, asked for forgiveness, and unlike my opponent I’m committed to being honest,” said Bennett in a statement to The McCarville Report.

“The real documentation and facts prove that Joe is lying. Joe’s lies include that there was a minor – or any other person, for that matter –  involved in the DUI case, the IRS will confirm there is no investigation and there never was, and the ethics commission violation was simply a late fee. The truth is that my opponent does not want to talk about the issues like education, jobs and public safety because Joe is wrong on the issues and he knows it.

“This is classic Washington D.C. style politics and Oklahoma voters will not fall for it.”

 

 


Print pagePDF pageEmail page
  1. Micheal, 24 October, 2016

    Maybe forest should check out Joeforoklahoma.com since he cannot “remember” what he has and hasn’t done, and here is a paper trail of activities.

*

Copyright © The McCarville Report