A Democratic state representative from Oklahoma has been officially censured after he allegedly tried to harbor a fugitive who had been charged with assaulting a police officer.
Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses the pronouns ‘they/’them’ in her Twitter bio and is identified by the media as ‘non-binary’, has been charged to block the police to arrest a transgender rights activist accused of assault.
The incident occurred late last month as lawmakers were voting on the legislation to protect children “gender transition procedures” or similar physical abuse.
State Rep. Bob Culver was hit with a “liquid substance” later identified simply as water as he walked through a group of protesters.
Here is the start of the incident, you can see water being thrown by a transgender rights activist. Looks like the water is hitting Rep. Bob Culver (who didn’t debate the bill). He still voted for it. pic.twitter.com/wCI8yrYKGp
— Payton May (@paytonnmay) February 28, 2023
Activist arrested, but another tried to intervene
While the first activist was arrested, another by the name of Austin Ross interfered and shouted to the arresting officer that the water pitcher “wasn’t going to be arrested”.
Ross then grabbed the soldier’s hands in an attempt to free the individual. Which, of course, is ill-advised.
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Court documents indicate that the soldier had identified Ross as having attempted to “prevent the arrest” of the first individual.
Here is the video of the interaction I missed the water spray on Culver but here is everything that follows. pic.twitter.com/TLi4f9wcoW
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) February 28, 2023
Ross then flees and takes refuge in Turner’s office. Troopers said the door to the state representative’s office was locked when they attempted to enter to arrest the man at the scene.
“When we go up to the rep’s office, we weren’t allowed in, even opening the door,” Highway Patrol Trooper said. Eric Foster.
Ross had an arrest warrant issued days later.
BREAKING: The House voted to censure Rep. Mauree Turner on an 81-19 vote for allegedly harboring a fugitive during protests last week against a series of anti-trans bills. Below is a statement from President Charles McCall. #okleg pic.twitter.com/JSDlBVRcQZ
—Tyler Talley (@tylertalley22) March 7, 2023
Oklahoma Democrat censured for harboring fugitive
On March 7, Turner was censured by a vote of 81 to 19 for allegedly aiding and abetting Ross in his efforts to evade the police.
“The member”, according to to a statement of the Oklahoma House, “hosted a wanted fugitive for questioning in conjunction with the alleged assault inside their House office and denied multiple requests from law enforcement to interview the individual.”
House Speaker Charles McCall accused Turner of “knowingly and willfully obstructing a law enforcement investigation, harboring a fugitive, and repeatedly lying to officers.”
“I will not allow members of the House of Representatives to use their offices and official assigned positions in the House to prevent law enforcement from conducting investigations or making arrests in the State Capitol. “McCall said.
The member, Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, allegedly harbored a wanted fugitive for questioning in conjunction with the alleged assault inside her office and denied multiple requests from law enforcement to interview the person .https://t.co/7iFGQnZdFt
— KOKH FOX 25 (@OKCFOX) March 8, 2023
With the censure, Turner will be stripped of her committee assignments unless she issues a formal apology for trying to harbor a fugitive and obstructing a police investigation.
But the Democrat doesn’t seem interested in doing so.
“I think apologizing for loving Oklahoma people is something I can’t do,” Turner said. “It’s something I actively refuse to do.”
. @MaureeTurnerOKwho have been stripped of their committees unless they publicly apologize, said they do not plan to apologize.
“I think apologizing for loving someone is something I can’t do. It’s something I actively refuse to do. #OkLeg
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) March 7, 2023
Only someone actively confused about how gender works could possibly turn harboring a fugitive into “I just liked the people of Oklahoma.”
The only question here is why the police did not arrest Turner.
If they had gone to a civilian’s home to execute a warrant or after witnessing a crime, and someone prevented them from entering the home, that person would also have been arrested.
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