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The Oklahoman
Ex-AG seeks prosecution of
cockfighting bird exporters
By Randy Ellis
Staff writer
rellis@oklahoman.com
Former Oklahoma Attorney
General Drew Edmondson
has sent emails to federal and
state prosecutors in eastern
Oklahoma asking them to
investigate allegations that
game fowl breeders within
their jurisdictions are among
the leading exporters of roost-
ers to Guam for the purpose of
cockfighting.
“The Eastern District is
fraught with individuals who
have been involved in the
global trafficking and fight-
ing of birds,” said Edmondson,
Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is who represents several animal
requesting prosecution of four Oklahomans allegedly providing rights groups. “It is a felony
animals to cockfighting outfits, like this one in Guam. [PROVIDED] under state and federal law to
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
buy, sell, deliver or own any
bird with the intent that such
bird shall engage in a cock-
fight, and that’s clearly what
we’re seeing."
Edmondson said his emails
to prosecutors were prompted
by an investigation by Animal
Wellness Action and Animal
Wellness Foundation that
revealed individuals from
eastern Oklahoma were three
of the top five shippers of birds
to Guam over a period of three
years.
Edmondson serves as co-
chair of the National Law
Enforcement Council, which he
described as an arm of Animal
Wellness Action and the Animal
Wellness Foundation.
See BIRDS, A2