In a recent twist in the ongoing ClassWallet debacle, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt took to the press to address the political maneuvers surrounding the lawsuit involving the education funds management firm. ClassWallet, which had been under fire for the mishandling of Oklahoma's COVID-era Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER), was sued by Stitt's administration in 2022, according to a statement released by the governor's office.
Governor Stitt blasted Attorney General Gentner Drummond for what he considered a self-serving involvement in the lawsuit, stating, "The Attorney General’s involvement in ClassWallet never had any merit," and adding, "He inserted himself in the lawsuit to advocate for his political donors while claiming to advocate on behalf of taxpayers," this criticism comes on the heels of Drummond's decision to step back from the case, with Stitt acknowledging the move as a "first good faith attempt" to act in the state's interest. The governor has been vocal about his commitment to holding vendors accountable and fighting for the people of Oklahoma, pledging to continue this crusade on behalf of the state's four million residents.
Drummond had notably intervened in the ClassWallet suit, a move criticized by Stitt and others as an attempt to curry favor with campaign donors who had backed his bid for attorney general and now, in an expected shift, Drummond has removed himself from the proceedings which Stitt has welcomed as a step in the right direction for Oklahoma taxpayers.
With Drummond's withdrawal, Governor Stitt's administration appears readied to forge ahead, intent on bringing to account any mistreatment of educational funds allocated during the pandemic; his administration's suit against ClassWallet serving as a testament to an ongoing endeavor to ensure financial responsibilities are upheld, with the governor affirming, "Governor Stitt, as he has since the filing of this lawsuit, will continue to hold vendors accountable and advocate for all four million Oklahomans," signaling an undeterred commitment to governance focused on fiscal accountability and the well-being of the citizens he serves.
