OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A state senator accused of violating Oklahoma's nepotism law for hiring his cousin to a publicly funded position is now arguing the claims have no legal leg to stand on.
The allegations first surfaced Tuesday morning when Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, revealed to colleagues his executive assistant, TaRena Reece was, in fact, his first cousin.
After being made aware of the situation, Arron Cooper, Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Communications Office of Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat said in a statement to FOX 25:
"Immediately upon learning of the relationship between Senator Jett and his executive assistant, Senator Jett was informed his executive assistant could not be employed by the Senate."
Jett acted accordingly by allowing his cousin to resign from her position, but also praised her work ethic saying, “TaRena Reece is the best employee I have ever worked with and was my first choice to be my Senate Executive Assistant. I would not part with her were it not for the prohibition of consanguinity. I give her my highest recommendation.”
However, after digging deeper into the state statute he was accused of breaching, Jett now believes he's done nothing wrong.
In a new statement issued late Tuesday evening, Sen. Jett walked back his initial response:
“I thought I had inadvertently violated hiring practices but, upon further review, it’s clear I did not. State statute says we may not hire relatives within the third degree. However, based on a standing Attorney General opinion, cousins are not defined as first, second, or third-degree relatives."
Under Oklahoma's nepotism law, state elected officials are only banned from hiring relatives within the third degree of consanguinity (or blood relation), which according to election law attorney A.J. Ferate, does not include cousins.
"State law is very clear that a cousin does not fit within the first three degrees and therefore no violation has accorded," explained Ferate.
Ferate says cousins are listed within the fourth degree of consanguinity, referencing a 1980 attorney general’s decision as proof.
"That would be the authority that I think very clearly in this instance lays out the answer that Shane Jett has not violated any state law," said Ferate.
Jett says he has full intentions of rehiring his cousin as his executive assistant but has concerns she might not be interested in returning.