January 1, Nonbinary State Lawmaker Censured for Harboring a Fugitive

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
2018: China’s National People’s Congress approves removal of term limits for a leader, allowing Xi Jinping presidency for life.

The Oklahoma state House of Representatives officially censured one of its Democratic members for harboring a fugitive who was accused of assaulting a police officer.

Rep. Mauree Turner, the first nonbinary Muslim lawmaker to be elected in Oklahoma, blocked state troopers from questioning an activist who allegedly assaulted an officer during a protest.

Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, will be removed from all committee assignments unless the lawmaker issues a formal apology to the Highway Patrol.

However, the second-term lawmaker has outright refused to apologize.

“I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do,” Turner said. “It’s something that I actively refuse to do.”

The incident occurred after a heated protest at the Capitol last week, where demonstrators picketed against the passage of House Bill 2177. The legislation prohibits healthcare professionals from referring, performing, or attempting to perform gender-affirming care on any individual under age 18.

“This legislation is about protecting our children from those who would seek to profit from their gender confusion,” said Rep. Kevin West (R), who coauthored the bill. “As a state, we must not be partner to irreversible health practices that permanently change the bodies of our children before they are of an age where they can fully understand the consequences of their decisions.”

During the hectic demonstration, a protester allegedly poured water on one of the Republican state representatives who authored the bill, Rep. Jim Olsen.

When Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers intervened and attempted to escort the demonstrators out, one of the protesters hurled fluids at an officer. When the trooper attempted to arrest the perpetrator, the suspect allegedly attacked them.

During the scuffle, an activist, accused of interfering with the arrest, fled the scene and was given refuge in Turner’s office.

“When we go up to the representative’s office, we were not allowed in, even from opening the door,” said Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster.

Following the vote to censure Turner, the Oklahoma House of Representatives issued a press release regarding the incident.

“The Oklahoma House of Representatives today censured one of its members for impeding a law enforcement investigation into an alleged assault on a fellow member and an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper that took place in the Capitol last week,” the release read.

“The member, Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, harbored a fugitive wanted for questioning in conjunction with the alleged assault inside of their House office and rejected multiple requests by law enforcement to question the individual.”

State House Speaker Charles McCall (R) said Turner “knowingly, and willfully, impeded a law enforcement investigation, harboring a fugitive and repeatedly lying to officers, and used their official office and position to thwart attempts by law enforcement to make contact with a suspect of the investigation.”

“The House stands by our law enforcement, and will not allow what is an already dangerous and unpredictable job to become more dangerous due to the actions of a member of our body,” McCall’s statement continued. “The inappropriate, and potentially criminal, actions exhibited by this member of the House were deserving of censure, and the actions taken by the House today were both measured and just.”

Source: AP, Oklahoma House of Representatives