RNC Committee on Contests hears Oklahoma Objection

This morning, at 9 a.m. local time, the seven member Committee on Contests of the Republican National Committee (RNC) held a hearing regarding a challenge to the At-Large delegation from Oklahoma to next weeks Republican National Convention. The Contestants were represented by non-attorney representatives Porter Davis and Mike Stopp, with Qadoshyah Fish available as a witness. The Respondents were represented by legal counsel and had as witnesses Oklahoma GOP Chairman Matt Pinnell along with 2012 OK GOP Convention Chair Marc Nuttle.

Although there were many issues of dispute at the May 12th, 2012 Oklahoma GOP Convention, the Contestants decided to focus on just one: a Roll Call Vote. On July 26th, 2012, an official Statement of Grounds was filed with the Secretary of the Republican National Convention, Demetra DeMonte, along with notification to each of the challenged potential At-Large Delegates and At-Large Alternates. A challenge against improper procedures and the breaking of rules does not go against those who broke the rules, but against those who, through no fault of their own, may benefit from the actions of others. Over $600 was spent on postage of the small amount of funds raised for this challenge, mostly for registered letters - each of which cost $11.80.

The next deadline, based on the Procedures for Contests of Elections of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the 2012 Republican National Convention, was to file the Contestant Statement of Position. This document was required to be filed by August 1st, with supporting Statements of Fact and supporting documents such as the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Official Minutes of the 2012 GOP Convention, 2012 GOP Convention Rules and Order of Business, and even a video clip and transcript of the Voice and Standing vote under contest.

 After meeting this deadline, the Respondents, via their attorneys, filed the Respondent Statement of Position, Affidavits, and Exhibits. Numerous issues that the Contestants did not address were introduced at this time by the Respondents, including what caused the numerous delays and why there were so many problems with the Credentials Report. Even though these matters were not introduced by the Contestants, they were forced to introduce a counter to all of the wild claims made in the Respondent Affidavits and Exhibits. 

With both sides having presented an argument, on August 9th the Committee on Contests issued Supplemental Instructions for the Delegate Contests, which governs any official objection to Report. The RNC Committee on Contests Report and Recommendation for Resolution was issued on August 10th, ruling  in favor of the Respondents (the State GOP slate), on the grounds that a different method of voting would not have changed the outcome.

Following the Supplemental Instructions, the Contestants filed a Notice to Object (August 13th) and then the official Objection and Request for Hearing on August 18th. Included was the transcript of a new video, which sheds significant light on the events that occurred that day:


Video streaming by Ustream
Both sides now wait for the final Report of the Committee on Contests, which will then go to the RNC for a vote. The RNC may accept the full Report as written, or revise it. It will then issue the Report to the Credentials Committee of the Republican National Convention, which meets later this week in Tampa. The Credentials Committee will issue a Credentials Report to the full Convention for a vote most likely on Monday, August 27th's early session.