There’s a new attorney general in office, and he’s bringing the smoke.

There’s a new attorney general in office, and he’s bringing the smoke.

Gentner Drummond had spent less than two weeks in office when his office fired off an email — on a Sunday evening no less — announcing that he will be turning up the heat on the Swadley’s investigation.

“The Office of Attorney General is the appropriate entity to determine if the findings merit prosecution and, if they do, to prosecute any wrongdoers. One of my top priorities in this office is to end the culture of corruption and scandal. Oklahomans deserve true accountability in government,” Drummond wrote in a press release.

When the smoke cleared, Swadley’s had scooped up $16.7 million in state funds to renovate and open restaurants in an exclusive contract with the state tourism department.

That’s not the only investigation heating up. He dismissed a civil suit against ClassWallet, a Florida company previously accused of mishandling $31 million in state education funds. But that doesn’t mean bad actors are off the hook.

“After a thorough review of this matter, I have concluded that the lawsuit filed by the previous Attorney General is almost wholly without merit. It is clear that a number of state actors and other individuals are ultimately responsible for millions in misspent federal relief dollars,” Drummond wrote.

It may be a little too early for barbecue season, but we’re getting out the lawn chairs for this grilling.

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