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Sep 22, 11:11 AM EDT

Worthen: Ethics panel has not asked him to appear


TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The chairman of a state House political action committee that raises money to elect Republican candidates says he has not received a letter asking him to appear before the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City, chairman of the House PAC, told the Tulsa World he called the Ethics Commission after it was reported he had been sent a letter to make sure that was not the case.

Gary Jones, chairman of the State Republican Party, said earlier this week the Ethics Commission is probing possible violations in GOP campaign financial dealings in 2004. Questions have been raised as to why contributions designated for the state party ended up with the Oklahoma County Republican Committee.

Jones said the party's attorney informed the party that "some people have received letters to appear" before the Ethics Commission, but Jones did not know who they were.

The commission will not confirm or deny whether it is conducting investigations.

Meanwhile, State House Democrats said Friday no one should rush to conclusions regarding the reports that House Republicans' campaign activities three years ago are being probed.

"Too often, politicians trip over each other rushing to judgment in these matters," said Rep. Danny Morgan, head of the House's minority party. "Right now, there are simply more questions than there are answers. We should patiently wait while the Ethics Commission investigators do their work."

On the other hand, Rep. Chuck Hoskin, the House Democrats' new caucus chairman, said the allegations appear to be serious, "involving Republicans at high levels of state government."

Questions have been raised as to why Republican candidates' contributions to the state party in 2004 were diverted to the Oklahoma County Republican Party, unbeknownst to some of the contributors.

Todd Hiett, then House speaker, said he did not know that the money intended for the state party ended up in the coffers of the Oklahoma County Republican Party. But he said Rep. Lance Cargill, who headed up the House Republican caucus, should be able to answer questions because he was responsible for the Republican PAC's activities.

Cargill, now House speaker, has not addressed the question as to why the money was moved.

Cargill, R-Harrah, released a statement Thursday saying, "We will play by the rules and work diligently to resolve any matter, and to show that unfounded claims that have been made are false."

The speaker said he did not "solicit, receive, deposit or expend any Victory Fund checks" contributed by candidates to the party.

Candidates can contribute money to parties but cannot designate how those contributions must be spent.

Meanwhile, another former lawmaker, Rep. Mark Liotta, R-Tulsa, said Friday he wrote a check to the state party for $5,000 at the time and was asked later by a staffer with the House PAC if it would be all right for the county party, instead of the state, to have the money.