Former Oklahoma Legislator Under Investigation

A former leader of the state House of Representatives has come under investigation because of his travel expenses.

Gus Blackwell, R-Laverne, on Tuesday denied wrongdoing and promised to cooperate fully.

“He has not knowingly committed anything criminal or improper,” his attorney, Glenn Coffee, said. “We intend to cooperate.”

Both the chief investigator for Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission are involved in the investigation. They are looking into whether Blackwell used both campaign funds and taxpayer money to cover the same travel costs, court records show.