Leftwich: Being A Legislator Means I Don't Have To Be Accountable!

[Conan71]

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Debbe Leftwich asks appeals court to dismiss bribery case

BY NOLAN CLAY      0
Published: April 28, 2011
Former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich is asking an appeals court to dismiss the bribery case against her and Rep. Randy Terrill or to prohibit any further proceedings.

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Debbe Leftwich asks appeals court to dismiss bribery case

Her attorneys filed a petition Tuesday with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
Her preliminary hearing judge refused April 15 to dismiss the case.
Leftwich again is insisting that she is immune from prosecution because of a clause in the Oklahoma Constitution that reads in part: "Senators and representatives ... for any speech or debate in either House shall not be questioned in any other place."


Terrill, R-Moore, is accused in a felony count of offering Leftwich a bribe — an $80,000-a-year state job — to withdraw as a candidate for re-election to the state Senate.

Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, is accused in a felony count of soliciting and/or accepting a bribe to withdraw as a candidate. She did not seek re-election.

Her attorneys told the appeals court, "The very point of the Speech and Debate protection is to prevent legislators from having to undergo the type of intimidation and investigation which will occur at preliminary hearing."

Her attorneys also contend she cannot be prosecuted because she never filed for re-election.
They say she, therefore, was never a 2010 candidate under the state's election code.
Prosecutors contend she became a candidate when she started fundraising for re-election.
The preliminary hearing is set for August.


Read more: http://newsok.com/former-oklahoma-state-sen.-debbe-leftwich-asks-appeals-court-to-dismiss-bribery-case/article/3562625#ixzz1KpGWktWv

Wait, wasn't the whole issue that she was bribed to not file for reelection?  I'd say that's pretty central to the whole case.

Terrill is a turd that needs to be flushed.  He and Sally Kern will not be missed when they finally limit out.

[heironymouspasparagus]

All she has to do is get the venue changed to Kurt Glassco judge and Tim Harris to prosecute them.  Case closed!!
She can afford that...

[nathanm]

They're just trying to delay. If the Supreme Court doesn't reverse the Nevada Supreme Court in Nevada Commission on Ethics v. Carrigan, they'll be untouchable.