Oklahoma is so corrupt that grifters now openly flaunt the law, and nobody but the media seems to care.
Earlier this week, Keaton Ross with Oklahoma Watch reported that Steven Harpe – the Stitt grifter who shiningly shows that even dumb people who fall for Facebook copypasta can make nice livings – recently went to work for the same AI company that he handed a million-dollar contract to while serving as head of the Department of Corrections.
If that sounds pretty shady and probably illegal, well, guess what…
Via Oklahoma Watch:
Former Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe approved a million-dollar deal with a private vendor in early April to install AI call-monitoring software in seven state prisons.
Months later, he resigned from state service and took a job with that company.
Geez. What’s this guy doing? He went straight to work for the company just a month after stepping down? At least pretend to hide it – take a “consulting” gig first, or better yet, have them hire your wife instead. Quid pro quo deals that double as bribes always work better with a degree or two of separation.
Here are more details:
On April 3, Harpe authorized a one-year, $1.017 million deal with LEO Technologies. Agency officials gave final approval to the contract, which includes four one-year renewal options, on April 8. The contract stipulates that LEO Tech will “assign designated personnel to support Oklahoma DOC operations.”
Harpe announced his resignation in late August, effective Sept. 30. The announcement stated that he was leaving state service to rejoin the private sector but did not specify which company. Typically, if the company is in business with the state, such a move would require a one-year cooling-off period.
See? Even Oklahoma law requires you to wait a bit before blatantly grifting!
Although Harpe going to work for a tech company that wants to use AI technology, robots, and precogs from Minority Report to monitor Oklahoma prisoners less than a year after resigning is likely illegal, it’s up to Attorney General Gentner Drummond – the guy who let Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Jerry Winchester, and many others off the hook on the Swadley Swindle – to make an issue of it.
Oklahoma statutes stipulate that a state officer or employee who exercises discretion or decision-making authority in awarding a privatization contract is prohibited from becoming an employee of that business or organization within one year of the contract award date. Penalties for violating the statute include the cancellation of contracts and a temporary prohibition on doing business with the state.
The Legislature passed the law in 1999 to stop a revolving door of state officials leaving to work for private vendors. In 2009, lawmakers updated the statute to include sanctions for businesses that hire an involved state employee.
Lee Ann Bruce Boone, executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, said enforcement of the statute likely falls to the attorney general’s office. Leslie Berger, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, declined to comment on whether the matter is under investigation, citing internal agency policy.
Come on, Gentner! Put down the beef burger and do the right thing here!
I know you don’t want to make too big of an example of Harpe because it’ll likely put you in an awkward spot when your grifters, subordinates, and other racquetball buddies do the same exact thing down the road. But come on! At least go after one of these Stitt Stooges. We need to have some accountability here before the next gubernatorial regime comes in and the cycle repeats – or reaps – itself!
Oklahoma Watch reached out to Harpe, but he was apparently too busy denying Facebook permission to share his photos, memes, and Candy Crush scores.
Harpe did not respond to phone calls, a text message, or an email seeking comment. LEO Technologies did not respond to a phone call or written inquiry.
Harpe earned $275,000 per year in his role as agency director — comparable to top prison officials in larger states like Texas. Stitt has defended the salary as necessary to recruit and retain the “best and brightest” from the private sector to work in state government.
Seriously, this guy used his $275,000-a-year state job to give funding to a company so they could afford to hire him for an even better job!? Well done, you grifter maestro! Give this guy the John and Shelley Zumwalt Prize for Grifter Excellence.
In other news, I think I’m at the point where we’re done criticizing these grifters and may just have to join them instead. If Gentner, McCall or Coach Keating needs someone to run an agency for a couple of years while scouting my next six-figure private sector gig, I’m available.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
