Daily Beast Story Ties Stitt to Azerbaijan Scandal
The Daily Beast published a story yesterday that tied Gov. Kevin Stitt to nefarious activity in a former Soviet country, though the governor’s office said the connection is nothing more than the ongoing development of a trade relationship.
Here’s the lede from William Bredderman’s story:
“A secret agent working for an authoritarian ex-Soviet republic who allegedly bribed Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) also pursued ties with Oklahoma and its Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt — with U.S. federal funds helping to underwrite his efforts, The Daily Beast has found.”
Bredderman drew a connection between Stitt’s activities in Azerbaijan and Elshan Baloghlanov, a former official at the country’s Los Angeles consulate and the owner of the D.C.-area firm WCC International, the company The Daily Beast contends facilitated payments to Cuellar’s relatives.
Cuellar and his wife were indicted in May for accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan government-owned oil and gas company and a Mexican bank. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.
“Now, The Daily Beast can reveal that at least some of that USAID money paid for Baloghlanov and WCC International to conduct outreach efforts in Oklahoma that led directly to Stitt visiting Azerbaijan in 2021, and even meeting with its dictatorial President Ilham Aliyev,” Bredderman wrote.
A spokesperson for Stitt, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, maintained any contact between his administration and Baloghlanov and his company was purely incidental, The Daily Beast reported.
More worth reading:
OVA Considers Bed Reduction
The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is considering eliminating 126 beds from three veterans’ homes in an effort to reduce expenses by moving closer to a 90% occupancy target. [Oklahoma Voice]
Bacone College Files Bankruptcy
A struggling Oklahoma college that has graduated generations of Native American students filed for bankruptcy as its future remains in doubt. [The Oklahoman]
OG&E Rate Hike Effective Today
Starting today, OG&E customers will absorb the company’s biggest rate hike in 20 years. The company is moving forward with raising customers’ bills starting July 1 even though the request has yet to be heard by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. [The Oklahoman]
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Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org