Stillwater Mayor Speaks Out About Indictment To Be Unsealed

By Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Mayor Nathan Bates first made news for being the youngest mayor Stillwater has ever had. Then in December, he was at the center of a petition requesting his removal from office.

The petition accused him of using his position for personal benefit, interfering with police officers on duty, being intoxicated in public and asking a woman to expose her breasts. He barely scathed by in the recall election. A total of only four votes kept him in office. Now he's been named in a grand jury indictment that is going to be unsealed on Monday.

At the center of the indictment is a $5,000 economic grant that was awarded to Bates and a business partner to renovate an abandoned main street building into loft apartments and a restaurant.

"I believe everything I've done to be legal and proper and legal, and I'm willing to have 12 other people decide that," Bates said.

The grand jury was investigating if a fraud statute had been violated. Some city leaders said Bates used his political office to get the grant for development.

Bates said he can't say much about the indictment but has publicly stated to the local paper and on his Facebook page.

"I'm sorry Stillwater; this term in office has been surrounded by malicious scandal from vested interests who care little for our actual city. We have wasted more time and money trying to create issues that I'm guilty of rather than fixing real problems. I hope that all of Stillwater is able to recognize the ingrained corruption and will rebel against this outright attack on our political system."

Despite all the controversy, Bates said he would like to stay in politics.

"I do see there are some things in our government that are flawed, and it's the job of politicians to try to change those for the better," Bates said.