Report: Rinehart Audit Recommended Stronger Ethics Policy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A 2004 audit found no violations of Oklahoma City's conflict of interest policies when Brent Rinehart accepted a $5,000 campaign donation from a developer two weeks before that

Monday, May 21st 2007, 8:17 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A 2004 audit found no violations of Oklahoma City's conflict of interest policies when Brent Rinehart accepted a $5,000 campaign donation from a developer two weeks before that developer's project was up for a vote.

According to documents obtained by The Oklahoman, the city auditor found no illegal behavior by Rinehart but recommended a strengthening of the ethics policy that eventually was enacted.

Rinehart says the audit while he was on the city council was a case of political opponents attacking him, and investigators finding nothing.

Seven months after the audit, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launched an unrelated probe that has resulted in felony charges against Rinehart and campaign manager Tim Pope.

Rinehart is now a member of the Oklahoma County Commission.