A grand jury indicted the Republican speaker pro tempore of Oklahoma’s state House for allegedly misusing his power to alter state law so that his wife could become a tag agent.
State Rep. Terry O’Donnell faces five felony and three misdemeanor charges while his wife, Teresa, faces three felonies and one misdemeanor charge, The Oklahoman reported late Friday. According to the AP, the most serious charge is conspiracy against the state, which comes with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
O’Donnell introduced a bill in 2019 to allow wives of legislators to become tag agents. In Oklahoma, tag agents are independent operators of agencies that provide government services such as driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, title transfers, and notary services. Tag agents receive government subsidies to run their businesses, which are often found in rural areas that may not have easy access to high-speed internet, or a Department of Motor Vehicles.