Former Oklahoma Lawmaker Accused Of Accepting $400,000 In Bribes

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Former Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly accepting bribes while in office.

A 28-page document accuses Morgan of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes from three companies while he was in office.

Morgan is not alone in these allegations. Lobbyist William Skeith and attorney Martin Stringer are accused of working with Morgan and are also named in the indictment. Skeith and Stringer are accused of conspiracy, extortion and mail fraud.

Read the indictment against Mike Morgan, William Skeith and Martin Stringer.

The 63 count indictment claims the illegal payments were disguised to Morgan, who is an attorney, as legal fees.

Morgan is charged with two counts of conspiracy, one count of extortion, 59 counts of mail fraud and one count of bribery.

The indictment alleges Morgan received payments from a company that wanted to build a landfill, another wanted to build a power plant and a third wanted to limit the Health Department's regulation of assisted living centers.

Morgan's attorney David Ogle said the investigation into his client began four years ago.  He calls the charges "outlandish and overboard," and says Morgan is disappointed and shocked. 

Morgan's attorney says his client has given a great deal to the state of Oklahoma, and looks forward to his day in court. 

"He is able to practice as a lawyer, did practice as a lawyer, and give guidance as a lawyer and was within compliance within the Ethics of Oklahoma Commission," Ogle said.

Morgan was in office until 2008 but couldn't run again because of term limits.