Corporation Commissioner In Treatment After Allegedly Groping Man While Drunk At National Conference

An Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner says he is in substance abuse treatment after reports he groped a man at a national conference last month while heavily intoxicated.

Fellow Commissioner Bob Anthony is now calling on Commissioner Todd Hiett to resign from the state's three-member regulatory board.

The incident allegedly occurred at the Mid-America Regulatory Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota June 9. No report was filed with law enforcement, according to Minneapolis police.

Two Kansas Corporation Commission attendees later filed statements with the state’s human resources department, obtained by News 9 through an open records request.

One witness said Hiett was “Very, very intoxicated.” At the hotel bar around Midnight.

“Intoxicated to the point of not being able to speak more than one or two words at a time,” the witness wrote.

“At one point I realized that Commissioner (Hiett) was actually rubbing on (a male attendee’s) arm and shoulder area, in a completely inappropriate and uncomfortable fashion,” they wrote.

Another witness said the touching intensified “very quickly he moved from thigh to lap and placed his open palm on lap and groin area.”

Making things worse, according to one of the witnesses, the alleged victim of the unwanted touching represents a company that goes before Hiett and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

In a statement to News 9, Hiett said he doesn’t have any memory of the incident but takes full responsibility for his actions. The commissioner said over the last few years, he has “fallen into the trap of using alcohol to combat stress.”

“I acknowledge the seriousness of this situation, and upon learning of this event, I immediately sought treatment,” Hiett said.

Tuesday morning, Anthony issued a statement saying Hiett should resign. “The situation is untenable. Neither getting sober nor sincerely apologizing can resolve it,” Anthony said.

Hiett said in a statement he would not resign:

“As a Commission, we are facing a heavy workload including numerous rate cases with a tremendous potential impact on ratepayers. It would be a detriment for me to step aside from my responsibility to balance the interests of ratepayers to those of the utilities."

Read Commissioner Todd Hiett’s Full Statement:

“Over the last few years, I have fallen into the trap of using alcohol to combat stress. I am appalled and ashamed by what I have been told about my behavior while drinking in a social situation at a recent conference. I have no memory of this incident.

I acknowledge the seriousness of this situation and upon learning of this event, I immediately sought treatment. I am currently under the care of expert physicians and counselors to treat this affliction.

Over the past 30 years, I have been blessed in business and in politics. Most of all, I have been blessed with a strong, supportive family. I would humbly ask for your prayers, support, and discretion as our family, with God’s help, works through this very difficult time.

I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior.

With a strong faith in God and a strong family to support me, I am very optimistic for the future.”

As a Commission, we are facing a heavy workload including numerous rate cases with a tremendous potential impact to ratepayers. It would be a detriment for me to step aside from my responsibility to balance the interests of ratepayers to those of the utilities.

Commissioner Anthony’s filing comes as no surprise. He’s repeatedly accused other Commissioners and OCC employees of various things over the years without actively participating in the work of the Commission, which has often resulted in just two Commissioners deciding the merits of the cases that come before us.

Read Commissioner Bob Anthony's Full Statement:

Since The Oklahoman’s July 16 article about Todd Hiett’s “drunken behavior” in June, numerous current and former commissioners from across the country have reported to me a history of similar behavior at meetings and conferences in multiple other states.

I also sought out details about the specific June 9 incident in Minnesota that Commissioner Hiett claims he cannot remember. What I have been told by my colleagues is consistent with The Oklahoman’s report on July 29.

The behavior that has been described is beyond “inappropriate” or “offensive” and is no “joke.” It is horrifying, disgusting, and probably criminal. Alcohol is no excuse for it.

Hiett has said, “I apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior.” His so-called apology is insufficient and unacceptable, and his ongoing attempts to downplay the seriousness of what occurred only compound the offense.

Hiett has not apologized for what he actually did. Nor has he apologized for the disgrace and delegitimation his actions have brought upon the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, its employees, and his fellow regulators.

According to a witness statement, the victim represents, and perhaps even works for, a company that “goes before” the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and Hiett’s authoritative role as a commissioner and regulator was known before the unwanted sexual encounter. This aggravates the offense even further.

Tribunals like the Oklahoma Corporation Commission have a responsibility to protect their own integrity. As a State Officer with a sworn duty to support, obey, and defend the Oklahoma Constitution and an Article IX § 18 constitutional duty to “correct abuses,” my responsibility is clear.

I call on Commissioner Hiett to resign his office immediately. There can be no tolerance for his actions, especially when directed toward persons whose companies, industries, and/or jobs will otherwise continue to be directly affected by the regulatory decisions he makes. The situation is untenable. Neither getting sober nor sincerely apologizing can resolve it.

Hiett’s immediate departure is the only corrective action possible to restore any functional level of integrity and credibility to the business conducted at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.