MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) The personal photographer of former state Senator Gene Stipe says he's been called to testify before a federal grand jury. Allen Cherry of McAlester says the subpoena also tells him to bring every photo he's taken of Stipe during the past five years. Cherry says he'll be taking about 150 photos with him to the federal courthouse in Muskogee. The grand jury initially looked into a McAlester dog food plant built on land owned by Stipe. The investigation now includes allegations of kickbacks to three former lawmakers and possible illegal campaign contributions. Stipe resigned from the state Senate in 2003 and pleaded guilty to a straw donor scheme involving the 1998 congressional campaign of Walt Roberts. RELATED: Political observers are scratching their heads. Why would a man who was given a great deal after being convicted of paying straw donors, turn around and allegedly commit the same crime again? This 1998 interview by the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, regarding President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewsinsky, may give us insight into Stipes' thinking. GENE STIPE, Oklahoma State Senator: There's always a temptation to jump on somebody on somebody that's down. KWAME HOLMAN: Sitting in the office of his successful law practice in McAllister, Oklahoma, Democrat Gene Stipe reflected on the rough and tumble world of politics, of which he's uniquely qualified to do. Stipe, an Oklahoma state senator, has served 50 years in the legislature, longer than any other state legislator in America. Considered one of the last of the old political deal makers, Stipe is also as much a legend in Oklahoma as Carl Albert, himself. When we asked him about President Clinton's trouble, Stipe blamed it on the tabloid-minded media. GENE STIPE: It's no different than it's always been, except that the exploitation of the media of problems that used to be ignored because they were private, that no longer exists. No one has any privacy. KWAME HOLMAN: But Stipe said President Clinton shouldn't be counted out yet. GENE STIPE: The first year I was elected I rode the train with Harry Truman-if you thought of the national press, he didn't have a chance-we were all wasting our time riding around with him because he had no future-but he won the presidency and became one of the greatest presidents in a long time in my opinion. I still think there's hope for Bill Clinton.

Labels: Frances Stipe, Gene Stipe, Jeff McMahan, Mike Mass, Steve Phipps

Posted at 4/12/2007 05:10:00 AM