The meeting was confirmed shortly after the Ethics Commission disclosed a formal conflict-of-interest investigation of the Seminole Republican.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The House Rules Committee will meet Sept. 8 to consider investigations involving state Rep. Danny Williams, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert’s office confirmed Monday.
The Oklahoman first reported the date, which Caroline Estes, Hilbert’s director of media relations, confirmed to OK Politics Today. The meeting’s time and other details have not been announced.
Word of the meeting came shortly after the Oklahoma Ethics Commission disclosed that it had opened a formal investigation into allegations that Williams may have violated state conflict-of-interest rules.
Commissioners determined Thursday that there was reasonable cause to believe violations of Rule 4 may have occurred. The original complaint, C-26-19, is now designated Case No. 2026-19.
KOSU first reported the Ethics Commission investigation Monday.
The commission did not identify the conduct under investigation, who filed the complaint or the specific provisions Williams is alleged to have violated. Its public notice also did not say whether the case resulted from the House investigation.
The reasonable-cause determination starts a formal investigation but is not a finding that Williams violated the rules. Rule 4 addresses conflicts between the public duties and private economic interests of state officers and employees, including misuse of office and authority, official impartiality and gifts.
Ethics investigations ordinarily remain confidential, but commissioners voted to release limited information in this case after determining that disclosure was in the public interest.
House investigations followed staff complaint
FOX 25 reported last month that it obtained an email Hilbert sent to House members about the investigation.
In the email, Hilbert said he learned early in the summer of a complaint alleging improper conduct by Williams toward a House employee. An initial interview produced other allegations and led to investigations by the House Human Resources Division and an outside firm.
Hilbert said the investigations focused on alleged improper behavior toward House staff and also raised concerns about the potential misuse of state resources. He referred the findings to the Rules Committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond.
The House has not released the investigative reports or disclosed details of the alleged conduct.
Williams, R-Seminole, represents House District 28, which includes Seminole County and part of Pottawatomie County. He is seeking reelection in November against Democrat Blake Cummings.
