The state’s multicounty grand jury on Tuesday blamed Gov. Kevin Stitt and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, without specifically naming them, for the misspending of pandemic relief funds.
Grand jurors issued a 31-page report after hearing testimony in September and October about the GEER Fund programs in Oklahoma.
Grand jurors did not issue any indictments, saying they found insufficient evident to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a crime was committed. They did say their investigation “uncovered deeply troubling practices.”
GEER stands for Governor’s Emergency Education Relief. During the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education awarded grants under the GEER Fund to governors to provide emergency assistance for learning.
Grand jurors reported the evidence showed state officials disregarded available administrative safeguards in favor of advancing a political and philosophical agenda.
“We find the grossly negligent handling of federal grant money and utter lack of internal controls and oversight over the grant-funded initiatives to be irresponsible, disappointing, and indefensible,” the grand jury said.
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“What’s more, the waste and misspending of millions of dollars in emergency aid was easily preventable. This mismanagement prevented the most vulnerable Oklahomans from getting help they desperately needed during a global pandemic. Citizens deserve more from their government.”
The grand jury specifically blamed the governor for not letting the state Department of Education be the fiscal manager of the GEER money for political reasons.
The grand jury specifically blamed Walters for the misspending of federal funds in one GEER Fund program called Bridge the Gap.
The program’s purpose was to help children get supplies to learn at home during the pandemic. Some parents used funds from the program to buy things for themselves.
Grand jury faults Ryan Walters’ ‘blanket approval’ of vendors
The grand jury found Walters, then director of a nonprofit, Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, gave a “blanket approval” of vendors that allowed parents to purchase non-educational items including Christmas trees.
Because of a quirk in the law, grand jurors could not name Stitt or Walters in their report. Walters had not yet taken office at the time of the misspending.
The grand jury drew on findings by the state auditor that “$1.7 million was spent on various non-educational items such as kitchen appliances, power tools, furniture and entertainment.”
More: Oklahoma man asks judge to prevent Ryan Walters from spending public money on Bibles
Walters in the past has faulted ClassWallet, the out-of-state company hired to help disburse the federal funds.
The investigation of the GEER Fund programs by the grand jury had long been expected because Attorney General Gentner Drummond has blamed “state actors” for the misspending. Drummond’s assistants advise the grand jury.
Drummond made the statement about state actors in January 2023 when he dismissed the first state lawsuit against Kleo Inc., the Florida-based company doing business as ClassWallet. That lawsuit had been filed by his predecessor, John O’Connor.
Drummond in February dismissed a second state lawsuit against Kleo Inc., calling it a frivolous claim. He singled out Walters in a legal filing as “the person managing the program on behalf of the State.”
The second lawsuit was brought by an outside attorney and backed by Stitt. The governor criticized the dismissal, saying, “The attorney general has chosen to continue operating a political office in pursuit of personal aspirations as opposed to representing the state’s interests.”
This is a developing story.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Grand jury blames Ryan Walters, Stitt for COVID fund misspending
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