Known as an attorney general who stood up for Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry, Mike Hunter is leaving office in a move that stunned the state capitol on Wednesday.
Less than two weeks after he joined 18 other state attorneys general in urging President Biden to support additional energy infrastructure including the Keystone XL pipeline, Hunter announced his intention to resign because of personal family issues.
Hunter informed Gov. Kevin Stitt Wednesday morning as reports indicated he had filed for divorce from his wife of nearly 40 years last week in Oklahoma City.
“Regrettably, certain personal matters that are becoming public will become a distraction for this office,” Hunter said in a statement. “The office of attorney general is one of the most important positions in state government. I cannot allow a personal issue to overshadow the vital work the attorneys, agents and support staff do on behalf of Oklahoma.”
Hunter, 64 said he will resign officially June 1 because the personal issues might overshadow the work of his office.
He was named Attorney General in 2017 by then-Gov. Mary Fallen when Scott Pruitt resigned as attorney general to become the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. A year later, Hunt won election in a close race with Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond.
Earlier this month, Hunter sent a critical letter to Biden saying the President had sacrificed the Keystone pipeline “on the altar of left-wing virtue signaling.”
“Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, in a public briefing said that pipelines — as opposed to other transport methods — is the best way to move fossil fuels,” Hunter said at the time.
Hunter’s announcement to resign came a day after his office stood resolute in opposing a Public Service Company of Oklahoma energy center to be built on the Fort Sill Army post. His office concluded it felt PSO ratepayers should not be forced to bear the brunt of the cost of the $118 million center.
With Hunter’s impending departure next week, it is unclear who Gov. Stitt might choose for his replacement and whether the successor will be as defensive of Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.