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After a state representative admitted in court to injuring his wife and assaulting his teenage daughter, Republican leaders are not saying whether they will sanction the lawmaker.
Oklahoma Republican House Speaker Kyle Hilbert has been silent about potential disciplinary actions against Rep. Ty Burns, a four-term Republican representative from Pawnee. At least two fellow Republicans, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, have called on Burns to resign.
The case against Burns was kept secret until Thursday, Aug. 28, after he had pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of domestic abuse and two misdemeanor counts of assault.
Oklahoma law does not require state lawmakers to step down from office if found guilty of a misdemeanor offense. If elected state officials are found guilty of a felony, they are suspended from office under state law.
More: Lawmaker’s daughter feared he would kill her as he tried to run van off road, filing says
The events that sparked the investigation into Burns occurred in April, four months before the public was made aware that he was under police investigation. Police said Burns ran a van with his 16-year-old daughter inside off the road. As they were investigating that incident, officers learned that he also had tried to gouge out his wife’s eye in November 2024.
Three House Republicans told The Oklahoman on Friday, Aug. 29, they did not know about the case until it was brought to light through a news release from the Oklahoma attorney general’s office.
Burns was active at the state Capitol six days after police wrote in a court filing that he ran a van carrying his daughter and the girl’s grandmother off the road. According to that affidavit, the teen called her mother and said, “He is going to hurt us. Mama make him stop. Please he is going to kill us.”
It’s unusual that the public was unaware of the case against Burns until after the case was decided, said former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democrat.
One lawmaker who spoke with The Oklahoman, Rep. Jim Shaw, joined Stitt on Friday in calling on Burns to resign.
Rep. Ty Burns is pictured May 28 at the afternoon session of the House of Representatives during the last week of the Oklahoma Legislature at the Capitol.
“These are not allegations,” said the Republican from Chandler. “These are admissions of guilt, of violent crimes that should not be tolerated at all.”
Stitt said being an elected official is a commitment to the public, and Burns should “demand full-time attention to rehabilitation and reconciliation.”
Burns has stepped down from his role as chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee. Hilbert, a Republican from Bristow, has not said whether he will pursue further action.
Jennifer Monies, a spokesperson for Hilbert, said that she would not have answers to The Oklahoman’s questions about any potential sanctions by Friday afternoon.
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On Thursday, Hilbert said, “There is no place in society for domestic violence of any kind. I appreciate Rep. Burns taking ownership for his actions and seeking treatment.”
Burns received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete a year-long batterer’s intervention program. The sentence was recommended by prosecutors in the Oklahoma attorney general’s office, which took over the case after Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher recused himself.
Leslie Berger, a spokesperson for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, said the sentence is common for this type of first offense. She said prosecutors believed misdemeanor domestic abuse was the criminal act most supported by the available evidence, but she did not add further specifics.
Drummond later wrote in a post on social media Friday that his office had no “legitimate justification” to pursue felony charges against Burns. He said Burns had received “the strongest punishment possible for a first-time offender with a clean record.”
Under Oklahoma law, assault can be punished by a sentence by imprisonment in a county jail for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. Someone guilty of domestic abuse can be imprisoned for up to a year, charged with a fine of no more than $5,000, or both. For any subsequent offenses, the person faces being sent to state prison for up to four years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Several lawmakers say they were unaware of situation
Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, said he expected Burns to continue being involved in the House Republican caucus moving forward. He added that he was not aware of the investigation into Burns and could not think of a similar situation involving another lawmaker during his 10 years at the Capitol.
“He’s well-regarded up in this area,” Luttrell said of Burns.
Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, said she also hadn’t heard about the situation and questioned whether Burns should remain in office. She called on Hilbert to consider whether further action was necessary.
“It’s not enough for the speaker to say, ‘We’re just so happy that he’s admitted he’s at fault,’” Jenkins said. “No. This goes beyond that. He’s a public servant, and he didn’t perform like one. I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if I were in that situation, because I’m not in leadership.”
Like Jenkins, House Democrats were unaware of the situation until Aug. 28, said House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. She and her caucus joined Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, in calling for Burns’ resignation.
“We were all shocked and horrified when news of the investigation broke yesterday,” Munson said. “It is deeply upsetting for everyone who understands the severity and danger of domestic violence situations.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma House speaker quiet amid calls for Rep. Ty Burns to resign
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