'You can't take things like this lightly.' State officials call for resignations in McCurtain County

The state representative from McCurtain County has joined the growing chorus of those saying officials there who reportedly discussed murdering journalists and reminiscing about racist policing should resign immediately.

Eddy Dempsey, R-Valliant, said the comments published by the McCurtain Gazette-News don't reflect how the county really is.

"I honestly think they should resign," said Dempsey. "I mean, to this point, there's no hearsay, no two words (about it); they were recorded, so it should be a resignation."

According to the newspaper, Sheriff Kevin Clardy, investigator Alicia Manning, Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix and District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings were part of an impromptu discussion after the March 6 meeting of the county Board of Commissioners.

A portion of the audio recordings was released online over the weekend, and while the audio matched some of the quoted material in the story, The Oklahoman has not yet independently verified who the speakers were in the recordings.

More: McCurtain Co. commissioner resigns amid controversy over violent remarks

Idabel mayor calls for resignation; officials call for accountability

Craig Young, mayor of Idabel, attended the county commissioners meeting Monday and also called for resignations.

The state senator who represents the area, George Burns, R-Pollard, declined to comment and said Monday morning he was waiting for more details to emerge. A spokesman for Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the office is investigating the situation and has no comment.

U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen tweeted Monday that "those involved must be held accountable so the people of McCurtain County can have faith in their government."

More: Transcript of McCurtain County Sheriff, Commissioners discussing lynching, hiring hit men

"These vile comments reflect the heart condition of a few and do not reflect the values of McCurtain County and Oklahoma," said Brecheen, who represents southeastern Oklahoma in Congress.

Dempsey said he's known those individuals for a long time and was surprised to hear what was said.

"Being from southeast Oklahoma, I don't honestly think it was serious, but you still can't take things like this lightly. You live in a glass bubble when you become a politician," he said. "I hope this gets resolved quickly. All my life we always say we don't get enough recognition in southeast Oklahoma, but we don't need this kind of recognition."

Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for McCurtain County officials to resign

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Sunday in a release that McCurtain County officials should resign after the accusations were published mid-April in a local newspaper.

"I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County," Stitt said in a statement late Sunday. "There is simply no place for such hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially by those that serve to represent the community through their respective office. I will not stand idly by while this takes place.

"In light of these events, I am calling for the immediate resignation of McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings, Investigator Alicia Manning, and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix."

More: Gov. Stitt calls for McCurtain County officials to resign

Stitt also said he will be calling on the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to begin an investigation "to determine whether any illegal conduct has occurred," according to a media release accompanying the statement.

The FBI and the Oklahoma attorney general’s office have copies of the recording, according to the Gazette.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: State officials call for immediate resignations in McCurtain County