Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the
Cherokee Nation, is facing a tough re-election campaign this year and a criminal indictment of another lawmaker could make his efforts even harder.
According to POLITICO, Mullin bought stock in a pharmaceutical company at the urging of
Rep. Chris Collins (R-New York). Collins has since been indicted for insider trading and for lying to federal investigators about his dealings with that company's stock.
"Representative Collins, who, by virtue of his office, helps write the laws of this country, acted as if the law did not apply to him," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman of the Southern District of New York said in a
press release. "These charges are a reminder that this is a nation of laws, and everyone stands equal before the bar of justice."
Collins has been removed from the
House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees pharmaceutical laws and related policy,
Rep. Paul Ryan
(R-Wisconsin), the
Speaker of the
House, announced after the indictment. Mullin also
serves on the committee but has previously denied being influenced by his colleague into buying the stock of Innate, the company at issue in the criminal case.
“The congressman learned of Innate when it became a newsworthy topic,” a spokesperson for Mullin told
The Oklahoman last year, when the stock purchases became news.
Mullin is
running for a fourth term in Congress despite pledges to only serve three terms. Still, he easily won the Republican primary for
Oklahoma's
2nd Congressional District, which boasts one of the largest Native populations, proportion-wise, of any in the U.S.
Jason Nichols, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who serves as the mayor of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the state's 2nd Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Markwayne Mullin, a Republican and a Cherokee citizen. Photo: Jason Nichols for Congress
But Republican turnout hints of a less than enthusiastic level of support for Mullin. According to the
Oklahoma Secretary of State, about 60,000 GOP voters went to the polls in June -- far fewer than the nearly 86,000 ballots cast by Democrats on that same primary day.
Democrats, incidentally, are leaning heavily toward a Cherokee candidate as their nominee for the district.
Jason Nichols, the mayor of Tahlequah -- which also serves the capital of the Cherokee Nation -- is hoping to unseat his fellow citizen in November.
Though Nichols secured the most votes on June 26, according to the
Oklahoma
Secretary of State, he did not win a majority. He is heading to an August 28 run-off against Clay Padgett
"Vote Aug. 28 and take the next step in sending Markwayne Mullin home. All voices in #OK2 matter," Nichols wrote in a
post on Twitter on Sunday.
Like Mullin, Collins is also
seeking re-election in New York's 27th Congressional District. He is vowing to defend himself from the criminal charges.
"We are confident he will be completely vindicated and exonerated," his attorneys said in a
statement on Wednesday. "Congressman Collins will have more to say on this issue later today."
Read More on the Story:
GOP Rep. Collins indicted, charged with securities fraud
(POLITICO August 8, 2018)
GOP Rep. Chris Collins charged with insider trading
(The Hill August 8, 2018)
Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) charged with insider trading, federal prosecutors announce
(The Washington Post August 8, 2018)
New York Congressman Chris Collins Is Charged With Insider Trading
(The New York Times August 8, 2018)
Join the Conversation
