In another case of Democrats behaving badly, State Rep. Ayshia “Ajay” Pittman, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty this week to three felony charges after directing the creation of a forged check to dodge campaign finance accountability. The scheme unfolded amid a long-running investigation by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission into her misuse of more than $18,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, including credit card payments and ATM withdrawals, among other activities.
Pittman has served House District 99 since 2019, co-authoring over 160 bills during her tenure. Yet the troubles began in 2020, with the Ethics Commission probing improper reporting of $50,000 in expenditures across the 2020 and 2022 election cycles. She agreed to repay $12,000 at that stage. But last fall, authorities escalated, filing suit over a falsified $2,500 check tied to a supposed Osage Nation donation. Pittman allegedly instructed her longtime legislative aide to alter the document and submit it electronically, along with a fabricated letter claiming water damage destroyed records. This violated not just ethics rules but Oklahoma law on forgery, conspiracy, and computer crimes.
The guilty plea to conspiracy to commit a felony, second-degree forgery, and violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act came on January 28 in Oklahoma County court, just before the 2026 session. Her sentence: a seven-year deferred term, meaning probation-like conditions with no jail time if she complies. She must resign immediately, which she did, pay full restitution — including $17,141 in civil penalties — to a charity, cover court fees, and stay out of trouble. She also agreed not to seek office in Oklahoma for 15 years. This seems a very slap-on-the-wrist type of ruling by the normally red state of Oklahoma.
Resignation is not a punishment. Laws were broken and charges are due.