By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY — Attorney General Gentner Drummond has accused Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt of misrepresenting a judgement against out-of-state poultry corporations made by a federal court.
Drummond claimed Stitt’s comments “distort both the facts of the case” and the interests of the state.
“Governor Stitt is completely misrepresenting this case, the court’s judgment, and Oklahoma’s interests,” Drummond said. “The State of Oklahoma has never sued a single farmer, and the court has not entered judgment against any Oklahoma person or Oklahoma company.”
Drummond further argued that the governor “failed Oklahoma” by allowing the Illinois River Watershed to endure “extensive and preventable damage” in an attempt to “protect corporate interests.”
“Stitt and his hand-picked attorney general, John O’Connor, had 18 months to manage this litigation. Instead, he chose inaction. Only now, after the court has ruled, is he attempting to deflect from his own failure of leadership,” Drummond said.
A federal court found out-of-state poultry corporations “liable for polluting the Illinois River Watershed” in 2023. The findings came shortly after Drummond took office.
Drummond “pursued mediation and workable solutions” that were denied by the corporations.
“Despite their current unwillingness to negotiate, I remain open to settlement even after entry of the judgment. A negotiated settlement gives all parties more certainty and flexibility for cleaning up the watershed while ensuring a thriving poultry industry in Oklahoma,” Drummond said. “I stand ready to bring the poultry corporations to the table for negotiations that will ensure clean water and a strong poultry business in Oklahoma. The question is whether Governor Stitt will finally stop interfering. Stitt’s attempt to stoke fear among innocent producers serves only the interests of out-of-state corporations, not Oklahoma’s farmers or their communities. I will continue enforcing the law and holding powerful interests accountable, no matter how loudly they protest.”
