By John Dobberstein, Editor
WAGONER — Wagoner County District Attorney has asked the state’s attorney general to assign an outside prosecutor to handle a criminal investigation into a failed petition drive targeting Thorp and Sheriff Chris Elliott.
Thorp sent a letter Friday to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stating he would be recusing himself from the probe and was “requesting a conflict prosecutor” be assigned to review and prosecute any alleged criminal wrongdoing.
Wagoner County Citizens Against Corruption petitioned last May for a grand jury to be impaneled to investigate alleged misconduct by Thorp and Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott. A Pittsburgh County judge approved the petition, but organizers failed to gather enough signatures to trigger the request, a judge ruled.
Thorp told Drummond in his letter that, “numerous allegations of potential criminal misconduct by petitioners have been made, including those related to the solicitation of signatures on the petition.”
Thorp said some of the violations he is concerned about would be civil infractions, but he added he’s reviewed allegations could be misdemeanors. And after reviewing signatures on the petition, “it is also apparent that there could be nearly 600 violations” of the law that would be a felony.
Due to his actions and prosecutorial discretion being a part of the complaints in the petition, Thorp said, “there could be an appearance of impropriety should I make any decision related to a criminal investigation of those involved or related to bringing the action and request appointment of a prosecutor to receive, review, or potentially make charging decisions associated with this matter.
“I am prepared to present significant and relevant information about this matter upon request.”
WCCAC wanted a grand jury seated to investigate allegedly “criminal” acts by the Sheriff’s Department in the deaths of county jail inmate Angela Liggans and motorist Jeffrey Krueger, and the failure of Thorp to prosecute any of the corrections officers or law enforcement involved in the two cases.
The probe’s existence came to light Thursday when a probable cause affidavit surfaced requesting the petition signature forms and other documents to be turned over to the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Department.
The investigation did draw criticism Friday from state Rep. Gabe Woolley (R-D98), whose relatives have been embroiled in a years-long battle with Thorp and the state’s legal system over the custody of Clayton Woolley.
Gabe Woolley told Drummond that news of the probe, “raised significant alarm among constituents in my district, many of whom now fear retaliation for exercising their constitutional rights.
“In my opinion, this appears to be a clear case of government power being weaponized against the people. Rather than respecting the lawful and constitutional process of petitioning a grand jury, this response seems designed to intimidate and silence citizens who are seeking accountability from their elected officials.”
Woolley asked Drummond’s office to, “review this situation and issue an opinion regarding the legality and appropriateness of the warrant issued by (Wagoner County Sheriff’s Lt. Danny) Elliott, as well as the conduct of both the sheriff and the district Attorney in response to the petition effort.”
WCCAC, which has taken down its website but still has an active Facebook page, has not commented publicly on the investigation, but has previously stated its petition effort was protected by the First Amendment.
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