Jury Seeks to Oust Okla. Governor

Impeachment proceedings should be initiated against Gov. David Walters because his guilty plea to a campaign law violation has compromised his office, a grand jury said Thursday.

“Public reaction and events subsequent to that plea of guilt indicate that there are grave concerns among many Oklahomans as to the indictments and accusations,” the grand jury said in a report ending an 18-month investigation. “Legal challenges have been, and may possibly continue to be made relating to the governor’s occupation of office.”

The grand jury stopped short of calling for the first-term governor’s removal, saying only that legislators should consider it.

Walters, a Democrat, said he would fight impeachment rather than resign. Walters pleaded guilty on Oct. 21 to a misdemeanor campaign law violation for encouraging a contributor to his 1990 campaign to give $13,500 more than the $5,000 allowed by law.