Representative Dan Kirby Announces Resignation

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Despite the Special House Investigative Committee report findings which cleared
Representative Dan Kirby of sexual harassment allegations, the Tulsa area legislator
announced he will step aside. The committee suggested that a vote to expel
Representative Kirby should be held; however, even if he triumphs over that vote he
would not have the privilege of carrying bills, appearing before committees, or being
recognized on the house floor according to other recommendations from the committee.

I cannot, in good conscience, continue to fight against unfounded accusations and what
I believe to be unreasonable committee recommendations when the end result will
ultimately be that the people of House District 75 will not have a voice at the State
Capitol for the next two years, Kirby said. The committee has ensured that this would
have been a lose-lose situation for me and my district.

The committee findings also cleared Kirby from any responsibility regarding the
settlement of the wrongful termination claim Hollie Bishop made against the House
when she was not even working for Kirby. The findings were clear that no sexual
harassment occurred and that the house might have been successful in litigation but
that former Speaker Hickman chose to avoid a lawsuit by offering the settlement. An
action which Kirby has repeatedly said he disagrees with.

Despite this, it seems that the committee and the press are trying to make these
matters related. I never sexually harassed anyone in the House of Representatives. I
even provided the Committee with text messages from Ms. Bishop which were written
shortly before she went to human resources with her complaint against me. These text
messages reflect that the real reason Ms. Bishop was upset with me was because she
learned I had asked Tom Newell about rumors in the Capitol that she was having a
relationship with a married Representative. I explained to her that I discussed the
matter with Tom because the rumors and drama were affecting my office. In those
messages, I told her that if she was upset about me inquiring into the matter, I would
ask human resources to move her. When I asked her if she wanted to stay as my
assistant, her response was If you want me to. I told her that she needed to keep the
drama and rumors out of my office. A few days later, she went to human resources and
claimed sexual harassment. I can only speculate as to Ms. Bishops intentions but
several investigations have concluded that I did nothing wrong and had nothing to do
with the settlement or her firing, stated Kirby.

Kirby cited Speaker McCalls commitment to follow the committee recommendations as

his ultimate reason for making his decision to resign. He expressed respect for the
Speakers position but stated his unequivocal disagreement with the recommendations
from the committee.

I made the decision to stay and fight against the false allegations so I could have an
opportunity to clear my name and to represent the good people of House District 75,
stated Kirby. The findings of the committee are clear that I harassed no one. In
hindsight, it was poor judgement to work with someone with whom I had a very close
and personal relationship with for over 5 years, but I strongly disagree that our actions
warrant my expulsion. Although I provided the Committee with pages of text messages,
Ms. Johnsons Facebook posts and letters from her which clearly support that she was
not harassed, as well as evidence that I was not the only man to whom she sent
unsolicited topless photos, the Committee chose to treat a consensual relationship far
too harshly and treat unwanted actions of Representative Fourkiller toward a minor
with basically a slap on the wrist.

Although clearly disappointed by the actions of the committee, Kirby expressed

gratitude to the people of House District 75 and his colleagues for his time in office.

Being a Representative of the people has been the highest honor of my entire life. I am
and always will be proud of the legislation I have carried to protect children, strengthen
athletic regulations, make youth sports safer, and many other positive reforms I have
carried. I believe I have always treated the peoples business with the dignity and respect
it deserves, said Kirby. I am so thankful for the 8 years that the people of House
District 75 gave me to represent them and I hope we will be well represented in the
future.

Kirby delivered his irrevocable letter of resignation to the Speaker of the House
Saturday morning.