Former Rep. Mike Reynolds: Right the wrong of AT&T’s bribery

Friday, July 21, 2017

404

COMMENTARY

(Correction: The headline of this post has been updated to reflect the fact that two people were convicted in this case. NonDoc regrets the error.)

To the Editors:

I have not only followed bribery cases at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for more than 20 years, I have also assisted law enforcement investigations.

On Nov. 3, 2015, I tried to intervene in the $16 billion AT&T bribery-refund case, but AT&T claimed my attorney, Jerry Fent, did not follow proper procedure. Later, I watched two commissioners dismiss a motion to intervene by the U.S. Department of Defense and all other federal executive agencies, despite the federal government’s recognition of,

… compelling evidence of intrinsic fraud utilized by Southwestern Bell [now AT&T] … DOD/FEA was affirmatively injured through the aforementioned criminal activity. To date, such injury has yet to be remedied.

Astonishing!

RELATED

Scott Pruitt and the ‘best interests’ of Oklahomans by Josh McBee

In my opinion, the most important recent statement about the AT&T bribery-refund case comes from Buck Revell, the former deputy-in-charge of the FBI’s criminal investigative, counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence activities.

From 1964 to 1994, Muskogee-born Revell directed or participated in virtually every major FBI investigation worldwide. Revell also oversaw the investigation of AT&T’s bribery activities in Oklahoma at the bureau’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

The Oklahoman should print his letter to our state (posted below) in its entirety. It begins, “Justice delayed any further is justice denied. Bribery is unconstitutional and it’s time AT&T refunded billions to Oklahoma ratepayers … .” His opinion was filed at the Supreme Court and should be heard.

Justice requires open records and a full hearing, not delay, fraud, obstruction and neglect of duty by public officials.

Former Oklahoma Rep. Mike Reynolds
Oklahoma City

(Editor’s Note: NonDoc runs Letters to the Editors up to about 300 words and reserves the right to edit lightly for length, style and grammar. To submit a letter for publication, please write to letters@nondoc.com. NonDoc is also seeking regular contributors of longer commentary pieces on local, national or international issues.)