Oklahoma::Politics: March 2018 Archives

Investigation into tracker found on Oklahoma legislator's car leads to Texas political consultant | News OK

"The OSBI has determined a longtime Texas political consultant known as Dr. Dirt hired the private investigators who put a tracker on a legislator's pickup court records show.

"The consultant, George C. Shipley, 70, has been subpoenaed to appear next week before the Oklahoma multicounty grand jury 'to provide testimony.'

"Shipley was told to bring business records on who hired him to do research into state Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore....

"'A friend ... told him the "wind group" wanted to discredit McBride and for McBride to be careful,' Special Agent Steve Tanner wrote in a court affidavit. 'McBride was attempting to write legislation to tax wind energy companies because he felt those companies could pay more taxes to Oklahoma.'

"Tanner also wrote, 'Through an internet search, I ... learned the "Wind Coalition" offices at the same address as Mr. Shipley, 919 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas.'"