THE disconcerting story of taxpayer money being used to settle a sexual harassment complaint against an Oklahoma House member underscores the importance of a robust media and its daily pursuit of government transparency.
The Oklahoman’s veteran reporter Nolan Clay broke the story Wednesday of $44,500 in state funds being paid to a former legislative assistant and her attorneys. The 28-year-old woman complained that state Rep. Dan Kirby, 58, began sexually harassing her shortly after she began working for him in January 2015.