The story of the Oklahoma summer is finally over.
Yesterday afternoon, Oklahoma County DA Vicki Behenna announced that her office found “insufficient evidence” to file criminal charges against anyone associated with Ryan Walters’ Nudiegate, bringing a somewhat disappointing end to what, for the most part, ended up being the Oklahoma story of the summer.
Via The Oklahoman:
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna says her office won’t file criminal charges after two Oklahoma State Board of Education members reported seeing images of naked women on a television inside of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during an executive session of a board meeting.
“After careful review, it has been determined there is insufficient evidence to file criminal charges,” according to a two-sentence news release issued by Behenna’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The announcement came about a month after the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office turned over results of an investigation into the incident performed by that agency and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Seriously, that’s it? I thought Nudiegate was part of a covert effort by Kevin Stitt, State Board members, and their teacher union allies to bring down Ryan Walters. At the very least, shouldn’t they be hit with conspiracy and obscenity charges for playing the bushiest scenes from The Protector during a board meeting?
Once DA Behenna dropped her news, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson — the guy in charge of the law enforcement investigation — held a press conference that felt like one of those “after the episode” specials that shows air after the season finale. They had a live audience, funny quips from panelists, etc.
For the most part, Sheriff Johnson seemed more preoccupied with the Speaker of the House stealing the limelight from his investigation than anything else.
Via Yawn Doc:
Johnson also noted that House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) “came out prematurely” on Aug. 5 with a press release announcing his belief that the Jackie Chan movie had caused the kerfuffle.
“I think his heart was in the right place. I think when you look at the position he’s put in, the people who are potentially coming to him, asking for answers, asking for information, he’s certainly looking to protect his institution,” Johnson said of Hilbert. “He just wanted to bring it to a close as well. Not the appropriate way to go, but his heart was in the right place, and so with that I offer grace. You just saw a guy trying to solve a problem, and you know, we’ve talked through it, and he’s a good man.”
Man, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when Tommie Johnson slammed the table and yelled in outrage after reading Speaker Hilbert’s remarks. I can’t wait to watch that scene, and all the others, when the entire Nudiegate scandal is recreated for Law & Order: C.H.U.D.
Anyway, I’d like to thank Ryan Walters, easily offended board members, and the programming director for Roku Action Channel for making Nudegate the story this Oklahoma summer not only deserved, but needed. I can’t wait to see what Mr. Fall has in store for us, and how it involves nipples.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
