Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony has been given 10 more days to respond to a lawsuit filed against him by fellow Commissioner Todd Hiett, a suit stemming in part from the sex and drinking scandal surrounding Hiett.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice M. John Kane IV granted a request from Anthony’s lawyer to extended the original response deadline of Sept. 9 to Sept. 19.
In his request, Commissioner Anthony’s attorney explained Anthony needed the extra time to respond because he “had not received any indication from the Attorney General’s office that the Attorney General would represent Commissioner Anthony in this proceeding.”
Because of that and the Monday deadline, Anthony said he had attorney George Makonin of Oklahoma City represent him in the legal matter.
Hiett, who stepped aside as chairman, refused to resign from the commission after allegations arose of him reportedly being drunk and groping a man at a hotel bar during a convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Anthony called for Hiett’s resignation and last month, Hiett went to the State Supreme Court seeking a writ of prohibition to stop Anthony from carrying out his own probe into the allegations.
Hiett said in the suit it was necessary to prevent Anthony from “engaging in efforts to trample Commissioner Hiett’s rights.” To which Commissioner Anthony responded with a statement in defense of his actions. “I make no apologies for my diligence in pursuit of justice on behalf of Oklahoma ratepayers over the last 35 years.”
Hiett’s lawsuit maintains that Anthony is “exerting powers not granted to him.” He further accused Anthony of attempting to “bully and intimidate” the attorneys of Riggs Abney law firm who were hired by the Corporation Commission to conduct an investigation into the groping and drinking allegations.