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Ethics Commission Launches Probe Into State Senator's Activities

Republican state Sen. Rick Brinkley
Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has launched an investigation into a state senator at the center of an embezzlement investigation for potential violation of state ethics rules. 

The commission voted unanimously on Friday to launch an investigation into potential rules violations, and the agency's Executive Director, Lee Slater, confirmed later that Republican state Sen. Rick Brinkleyof Owasso was the target of the probe.

Slater says the investigation already is underway and that Brinkley has been notified.

A telephone message left with Brinkley's attorney on Friday wasn't immediately returned.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed last week it is looking into allegations that funds were misappropriated at the Better Business Bureau in Tulsa, where Brinkley worked for 15 years before he was fired in April.

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