Police body‑camera video obtained by Fox News Digital captures the arrest of Oklahoma Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak outside a McDonald’s restaurant in Edmond on Friday night. Officers responded to a 10:45 p.m. call reporting a man who appeared drunk in public. When they arrived, they found Lepak standing near the drive‑through window and identified his vehicle in the parking lot.
Details of the encounter
According to the arrest affidavit, Lepak confirmed the vehicle was his but exhibited “extremely slurred speech” and an “odor of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath. An officer noted Lepak struggled to remove his identification from his wallet. During questioning, Lepak told officers he had attended a gathering with other fathers at a church earlier in the evening and admitted to drinking a beer, though he later said he had not finished it.
Police allege Lepak was unable to maintain a coherent train of thought and gave contradictory statements about how he arrived at the restaurant. The affidavit states he disputed being unsteady on his feet, yet officers observed him swaying and slurring. No breathalyzer test was administered, according to a spokesperson for Lepak.
Official response
Lepak’s spokesperson said the secretary was waiting outside the restaurant for dinner and would address the ticket through the legal process. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a news release calling the conduct “thoroughly unbecoming” of a high‑ranking state official and urged Governor Kevin Stitt to fire Lepak immediately. Drummond also referenced a prior arrest in which Lepak was found unconscious in a running vehicle, arguing the governor should have known better before appointing him.
Governor Stitt appointed Lepak as secretary of state in October 2025. Prior to that, Lepak served as the governor’s general counsel and as executive director of the State Chamber Research Foundation.
Implications for state leadership
The incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of Governor Stitt’s appointments and raises questions about the standards applied to senior officials in Oklahoma. While the legal process will determine any penalties for the public intoxication charge, the political fallout may influence future staffing decisions and public confidence in state leadership.
Local residents expressed mixed reactions, with some emphasizing the importance of accountability for public officials and others urging patience until the legal process concludes. The case underscores the challenges elected leaders face in balancing personal conduct with public responsibilities.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
