Oklahoma's Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister and four others are facing felony charges for alleged criminal activity related to Hofmeister's 2014 election campaign.
Hofmeister was charged Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court with four counts, including knowingly accepting illegal campaign contributions and felony conspiracy. Also charged in the conspiracy are former Oklahoma Education Association Director Lela Odom, former Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administration Executive Director Steven Crawford, and political consultants Fount Holland and Stephanie Milligan.
Telephone messages left Thursday for Hofmeister and with the OEA and CCOSA were not immediately returned.
The five are accused of circumventing state campaign finance laws by conspiring to funnel corporate contributions into a negative campaign against Hofmeister's Republican opponent, Janet Barresi.
It is illegal for a candidate to coordinate such expenditures.