Kevin McDugle (born May 3, 1967) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 12th district since 2016.[1][2] He has appeared on Dr. Phil.[3]
Political career
Following the serious injury of people blocking a road at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020, McDugle authored a bill that would grant immunity to drivers engaging in vehicle-ramming attacks.[4]
McDugle has advocated for an incarcerated Oklahoma man on death row, Richard Glossip, who has eaten his last meal three times, saying "They can show me nothing that ties him, and the one thing they have is a witness that says that he was the one that told him to commit the murder. Guess who that witness was? The actual murderer that beat him with a baseball bat. He's the witness, and what did he get for that testimony? He got off of death row himself and got life in prison."[5]
In May 2023, McDugle accused the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council, a lobbying group, of applying "pressure across the system to protect their power" and claimed district attorneys are "deeply embedded" in Oklahoma's branches of government in his attempt to help Richard Glossip. The Council has also "actively sought to undermine Prater’s successor, Vicki Behenna, the county’s first female elected DA." Prater and the Council knows "that if the courts agree that Glossip’s conviction should be overturned, it will be up to Behenna to decide whether to retry the case."[6] McDugle worked with Dr. Phil to bring attention to Glossip's case.[7][8] McDugle is quoted as saying "This case is no longer about justice. It's about power, pride, and politics."[9] He has threatened to try to legislatively put a stop to the death penalty in Oklahoma if Glossip is executed.[10] He criticizes former DAs in the legislature who are in charge of committees who will not come up with sentencing reform solutions.[11]
Continuing with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board's high turnover, in July 2023 Cathy Stoker resigned from the board saying that her role was not a "good fit" and Kevin Buchanan, a former district attorney for Washington County and Nowata County from Bartlesville, was appointed by Governor Stitt to replace her.[12][13] She resigned just before Richard Smothermon did in August 2023 after McDugle criticized the board and Smothermon specifically for not giving Richard Glossip five full board votes.[14] Smothermon gave no direct reason for why he resigned, but the Pardon and Parole Board is "currently the target of a lawsuit brought by death-row inmate Richard Glossip after he was denied a clemency recommendation."[15] McDugle said that he would like to see the pardon and parole board "have seven members instead of five and he’s going to work during the next legislative session" toward that goal.[16]
In 2024, McDugle said he "believes that members of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council had improper communications with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board prior to Richard Glossip’s clemency hearing in April 2023." District Attorney Jason Hicks criticized Attorney General Getner Drummond for sharing his views on the case. In other communications revealed, district attorneys referred to Drummond as a “douche” and "complained among themselves that the attorney general had turned Glossip’s clemency hearing into a 'circus'" and accused Drummond of vying for a run for governor.[17][18]
In 2024, McDugle voted against HB 3329 which still passed the house floor. It is intended to provide free menstrual prodcuts in school bathrooms.[19]
References
- ^ "Kevin McDugle announces candidacy for State House District 12". Tulsaworld.com. 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ^ "Representative Kevin McDugle". Okhouse.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ^ "25 Years On Death Row: Richard Glossip Tells Dr. Phil What He's Missed Out On | Dr. Phil". www.drphil.com. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "New legislation would protect drivers who hit protestors". AP News. February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Interview with state Rep. Kevin McDugle on Richard Glossip, Oklahoma executions". Public Radio Tulsa. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ Segura, Liliana; Smith, Jordan (May 10, 2023). "The "Power, Pride, and Politics" Behind the Drive to Execute Richard Glossip". The Intercept. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- ^ FERGUSON, TOM (2023-05-09). "Dr. Phil McGraw advocates for Richard Glossip at Oklahoma State Capitol". KOKH. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "Dr. Phil joins lawmakers in rally to support death-row inmate Glossip". 102.3 KRMG. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ FERGUSON, TOM (2023-05-04). "Lawmakers, faith leaders call for stop to Richard Glossip's planned execution". KOKH. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ World, Ginnie Graham Tulsa (2023-05-10). "Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Rep. Kevin McDugle on conservative Republican calls to halt Richard Glossip execution". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Rep. Kevin McDugle on conservative Republican calls to halt Richard, retrieved 2023-06-02
- ^ https://www.kjrh.com/jennifer-maupin (2023-08-11). "2 OK Pardon and Parole Board members resign amid Glossip lawsuit". 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
{{cite web}}: External link in|last= - ^ "Bartlesville Radio » News » Buchanan Appointed to Pardon, Parole Board". Bartlesville Radio. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ "Two of five Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board members resign". KFOR.com Oklahoma City. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ World, Barbara Hoberock Tulsa (2023-08-10). "Two former prosecutors resign from five-member Pardon and Parole Board". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ "Two Pardon and Parole Board members resign amid Glossip lawsuit". www.fox23.com. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ World, Steve Metzer Tulsa (2024-03-22). "Lawmakers chime in after DA's comments surface about Drummond, Glossip clemency". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ Clay, Nolan. "AG slammed in texts for stance on death row inmate". The Oklahoman.
- ^ "House Votes". webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us. Retrieved 2024-03-12.