State House investigative committee meets to discuss Carroll Fisher

Monday, April 5th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A House investigative committee examining the possible impeachment of Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher held its first meeting Monday and began to focus on the rules it will follow.

Committee chairman Rep. Opio Toure said he wants to make sure the panel's probe doesn't interfere with the criminal investigation of Fisher.

"I would anticipate some of the information we want to review may be in the hands of law enforcement agencies, who are doing their own investigations," said Toure, D-Oklahoma City.

Fisher, who has been charged with four felony counts related to operating a charity illegally and embezzling insurance education money, is also under investigation by a multicounty grand jury for other alleged wrongdoing.

Monday's meeting of the eight-member investigative committee focused on the general rules and guidelines the panel will follow during the course of its work.

The committee is examining five specific allegations against Fisher that were outlined in a resolution approved by the Legislature last week. Among the allegations against Fisher are:

-- Four felony counts issued in Oklahoma County District Court.

-- The alleged solicitation of gifts of artwork, furniture and kitchen equipment valued at more than $30,000 from entities regulated by the Insurance Department;

-- Distribution of "Friends of Fisher" stickers to medical professionals, who were instructed to affix the stickers to insurance claim submissions.

-- The writing of a check for more than $35,000 to Florida attorney for attorney fees from the account of an insurance company forced into conservatorship by the insurance commissioner.

-- Ethics complaints arising from Fisher's 2002 re-election campaign.

While Toure said the committee will focus on the five allegations outlined in the resolution, he added, "Should our investigation uncover other impeachable offenses, we should look into those."

The committee has subpoena powers for witnesses and records, and all testimony will be given under oath and recorded, Toure said.

Toure also said he plans to keep all of the meetings open to the public unless the review of testimony or records might hinder ongoing investigations against Fisher.

According to the Oklahoma Constitution, grounds for impeachment of an elected official are willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, habitual drunkenness, incompetency, or any offense involving moral turpitude.