Oklahoma Officials Allegedly Discussed Killing Journalists, Lynching Black People

Three Oklahoma law enforcement officials have been accused of discussing killing journalists and lynching black people in a leaked recording.

The Details: On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors held an emergency meeting and unanimously voted to suspend McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, investigator Alicia Manning, and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix. The McCurtain County Sheriff's office stated on Facebook that the meeting was recorded illegally. Meanwhile, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has called on the officials to resign.

Key Quote: “I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County,” Stitt said in a statement. “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.”

For Context: The suspensions come after the McCurtain Gazette-News secretly recorded Manning and Clardy apparently discussing killing reporter Chris Willingham. District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings allegedly replied that he knows "where two big, deep holes are here if you ever need them." Separately, Jennings also allegedly recalled how previous local sheriffs might take black people "down to Mud Creek and hang them up with a damn rope. But you can’t do that anymore. They got more rights than we got."

How the Media Covered it: Sources across the spectrum covered the news. Some right-rated sources pointed out that the recordings could have been altered.