Brent Swadley, the co-founder of Swadley's Bar-B-Q, has filed a motion aiming to remove Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond from the criminal case against him, citing concerns about Drummond's public comments potentially affecting the fair trial process, as reported by KOCO. Swadley's legal team argues that Drummond's extrajudicial statements might have "an imminent and materially prejudicial effect on the fact-finding process in an adjudicatory proceeding." The motion, which was filed yesterday in Oklahoma County District Court, also seeks to impose a gag order on the Attorney General, as mentioned in OKC FOX.
The legal wrangling unfolds as Swadley, along with Timothy Raymond Hooper and Curtis Ray Breuklander, faces one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the state and five felony counts of presenting false or fraudulent claims against the state, with the involvement of the Attorney General's office dating back to January 2023 when it was announced they would be working in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation on the case.
In a statement obtained by News9, a Swadley family spokesperson expressed "serious concerns about public comments Drummond has made about the case," further commenting these remarks "raised questions about political motivations and potential violations of professional conduct standards." This is underscored by Drummond's recent campaign move, as he has announced his candidacy for Oklahoma governor which adds layers to the accusations of political underpinnings within the legal duel.
As proceedings continue, the accused and his legal representation maintain that "There is nothing more fundamental to our legal system than the principles of fairness and integrity of the judicial process, particularly in criminal proceedings," stressing the importance of an untainted process, especially when political influence and public pre-judgment are at risk of coloring public perception and the judicial proceedings giving rise to a climate where due process could be overshadowed by public opinion rather than the merit of evidence, as stated by a Swadley family spokesperson in a report by OKC FOX.
