Dunn calls for a grand jury investigation after whistle blower’s allegations corroborated A shocking press report in Sunday’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette about details of official misconduct gleaned from a whistleblower’s lawsuit has Republican Attorney General nominee James Dunn calling for a grand jury investigation. The report exposed how the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office began committing serious misdeeds in 2002 and continues such to further the 2005 federal lawsuit that will result in millions of dollars in awards to Edmondson’s tobacco lawyer campaign donors if he isn’t stopped. “These are very serious allegations,” Dunn said. “The story demonstrates that the allegations in the Marie West whistleblower lawsuit are credible, and that the Attorney General’s office is directing our assistant attorney generals to spy on, steal documents from and mislead the very state officials and agencies the assistant attorney general’s are assigned to represent. If these allegations are true, the Attorney General and those employees who are assisting in the spying, theft and misleading of information from its own clients have committed criminal acts along with committing serious breaches of their ethical duties. Since there appears to be more than one person involved, we could have a criminal conspiracy that must be investigated. Frankly, something stinks here, and an independent grand jury should immediately investigate this matter,” Dunn said. Dunn says the shocking report points to an organized pattern of deceit and misconduct. According to the story, Edmondson devised a plan to undermine and mislead Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission administrator Ed Fite along with the agencies Edmondson swore a duty to represent on behalf of the State of Oklahoma. Assistant attorney generals were directed to "always divide and conquer the state agencies so they don’t thwart your power."The story also documents that Edmondson told Ed Fite to “stand down” in July or August of 2002 even though there was not a filed lawsuit for more than three years later. The Attorney General clearly has been untruthful and now he has been caught red-handed.” It is very clear that Oklahoma’s efforts to work with Arkansas were fruitful until Edmondson implemented his plan to divide and conquer. Fayetteville’s 2002 commitment to spend $125 million on sewer system improvements which discharge in the water shed was a huge accomplishment. However, it is clear that Edmondson’s plan, implemented by Kelly Hunter Burch, torpedoed a sincere effort by Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commissioner Ed Fite and the State of Arkansas to mediate the pollution being dumped into the water shed by non-agriculture activities such as municipal sewer plants. Dunn stated the story underscores why so many are suspicious of the motives of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office regarding the poultry suit and his attack on agriculture: “The issues surrounding the water debate are serious, and the stakes are high. With these grave revelations, it is imperative that an independent grand jury become involved immediately.” Posted at 9/14/2006 12:56:00 PM