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A McCurtain County newspaper released audio of county leaders discussing plans to kill a reporters and lynch Black people.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED
Courtesy The Oklahoman
State and Federal investigations were launched after this audio was released by the McCurtain Gazette, a local print newspaper. The audio is difficult to listen to as they discuss lynching black people, hiring hitmen to kill at least one reporter, and even how/where they could dispose of bodies.
The McCurtain Gazette chose to release only portions of the recording but reports the entire recording was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the attorney general’s office.
Since the release, Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for the resignation of several county officials, including Sheriff Kevin Clardy.
"I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County," Stitt 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. I will not stand idly by while this takes place." - Gov. Kevin Stitt
The Sheriff's office has made claims that the audio was edited before it's release.
"Many of these recordings, like the one published by media outlets on Friday, have yet to be duly authenticated or validated," the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office posted to Facebook. "Our preliminary information indicates that the media released audio recording has, in fact, been altered. The motivation for doing so remains unclear at this point. That matter is actively being investigated."
There have been talks that the reporter in question may have filed a lawsuit against McCurtain County and it's officials but we have been unable to locate the documents. We will follow up as this story develops.
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