Despite what you might have read elsewhere, there is no formal investigation underway by the state into the drunken shenanigans of Corporation Commission Chairman Todd Hiett.
Some reports suggested there was vote on Wednesday by the commission, but in the confusion it did not focus on the allegations that a reported drunken Hiett tried to grope a man at a hotel bar during a June conference in Minneapolis. Hiett doesn’t deny the event and only has stated he didn’t remember what he did that night involving an official who represents a utility and makes appearances before Hiett and the two other Corporation Commissioners.
General Administrator Brandy Wreath indicated during the meeting he had turned material over to the state Attorney General and the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It remains to be seen whether either agency had launched a formal investigation.
Contacted after the meeting, Phil Bacharach, spokesman for the Attorney General, responded to an OK Energy Today inquiry.
“The only request that the Corporation Commission made was to determine whether the complaint was protected under the Whistleblower Act. We told them that was a determination for them to make but that it did not appear to fall under that exemption.”
The Whistleblower Act reference involved a reported whisteblower complaint made to the Corporation Commission but Wreath explained it had nothing to do with the Hiett scandal.
During the meeting, Corporation Commissioner Kim David suggested an independent investigation might be proper. It was her response to Commissioner Bob Anthony’s call that Hiett should resign.
“I call on Commissioner Hiett to resign his position immediately,” said Anthony as he read a prepared entry into the minutes. “This agency needs to stand for transparency and truth.”
It’s not the first time Commissioner David has suggested an independent investigation be made on an issue before the three commissioners. She did the same thing in 2023 when commissioners wrestled with the prudency of 2021 winter storm fuel costs. It was to determine whether the costs were “fair, just and reasonable expenses.”
As for Commissioner Hiett, he remained silent during the discussion and had no response to either Anthony or David. Instead, he proceeded promptly to the next item on the agenda.
Hiett has publicly declared he will not resign and to do so would only harm business before the Commission.
“I acknowledge the seriousness of this situation and upon learning of this event, I immediately sought treatment. I am currently under the care of expert physicians and counselors to treat this affliction,” he claimed in a released statement.
The Corporation Commission meeting came a few hours after State House Democratic leaders called on the governor to call a special session to impeach Hiett.
“There is no place for such inappropriate and appalling behavior, especially sexual assault,”proclaimed House Democratic leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, “these reported incidents are an example of someone abusing their power and status in order to intimidate and take advantage of people.”
More than one journalist with experience in covering the capitol has commented that Hiett’s excessive drinking was nothing new and many recalled their encounters with him. One stated it was Hiett’s personal affairs and until it interfered with his government work, it wasn’t worth reporting. Now it appears the incident could become a problem not just for Commissioner Hiett, but for the alleged victim of the incident.
It raises the issue whether either individual, Hiett or the victim, could turn the incident into leverage if a utility rate hike is in question.
At a national convention last year in California, Hiett was seen at a bar drinking with an assistant attorney general and an executive of a major utility in Oklahoma.