Okla. officials discuss killing journalists, lynching Black people in secret recording

Apr 21, 2023

Shannon Longworth Anchor

By Shannon Longworth (Anchor), Ben Burke (Producer/Editor)

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

A recent conversation between county officials in Oklahoma was secretly recorded. Comments made in the recording have led to calls for some of those officials to resign.

“I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County,” Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Okla., said in a statement. “There is simply no place for such hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially by those that serve to represent the community through their respective office.”

Gov. Stitt specifically targeted McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, County Commissioner Mark Jennings, sheriff’s investigator Alicia Manning, and jail administrator Larry Hendrix with his resignation call. At one point in the recording, Sheriff Clardy and Commissioner Jennings appeared to lament not being able to lynch Black people anymore.

“I’m gonna tell you something. If it was back in the day, when that Alan Marshton would take a damn Black guy and whoop their ass and throw him in the cell? I’d run for f****** sheriff,” Jennings said. “Take them down to Mud Creek and hang them up with a damn rope. But you can’t do that anymore. They got more rights than we got.”

The recording captured the county officials talking about “beating, killing and burying” local journalists in Oklahoma. Clardy could also be heard boasting about intimidating the local district attorney.

“He called up and said I was a liar. And I went over to his f****** office and ‘I’ll tell you one thing, m***********. I ain’t no f****** liar,” Clardy said. “He said ‘you have a seat’ I said ‘I think I’ll stand.’ I was standing right in the middle of his door. I went over there to whoop his ass.”

Since the recording came out — Jennings has resigned. Clardy, Manning and Hendrix have not made any public statements about the recording, nor have they responded to requests for comment.

In a Facebook post earlier in the week of April 16, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office said the recording was “illegally obtained.” The office added the recording may have been altered, and may have been produced in violation of state law prohibiting secret recordings by third parties.

Tags: Oklahoma

“I’m gonna tell you something. If it was back in the day, when that when Alan Marshton would take a damn black guy and whoop their ass and throw him in the cell? I’d run for f****** sheriff.”

“Yeah. Well, It’s not like that no more.”

“I know. Take them down to Mud Creek and hang them up with a damn rope. But you can’t do that anymore. They got more rights than we got.”

What you were just listening to was a secretly-recorded conversation between county officials in Oklahoma.

Those comments — as well as several others — have the governor calling for resignations.

In that first clip we played for you — McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy and county Commissioner Mark Jennings appeared to lament not being able to lynch black people anymore.

In addition to those two — Governor Kevin Stitt called for the resignations of sheriff’s investigator Alicia Manning, and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix.

The recording captured the officials talking about “beating, killing and burying” local journalists.

Clardy could also be heard boasting about intimidating the local district attorney.

“He called up and said I was a liar. And I went over to his f****** office and I I’ll tell you know thing, m***********. I ain’t no f****** liar. He said you have a seat I said I think I’ll stand. I was standing right in the middle of his door. I went over there to whoop his ass.”

In a statement — Governor Stitt said quote “I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County. There is simply no place for such hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially by those that serve to represent the community through their respective office.”

Since the recording came out — Jennings has resigned.

Clardy — Manning and Hendrix have not made any public statements about the recording — nor have they responded to requests for comment.

In a Facebook post earlier this week — the sheriff’s office said the recording was “illegally obtained.”

The office added the recording may have been altered — and may have been produced in violation of state law prohibiting secret recordings by third parties.