Oklahoma – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt criticized Attorney General Gentner Drummond after a proposed multimillion-dollar settlement was announced in the state’s long-running poultry lawsuit, arguing the agreement should have been reached years ago.
“It is a shame that State Attorney General Gentner Drummond put our family-owned farmers through years of uncertainty and threats to ultimately reach the agreement I called for him to negotiate long ago,” Stitt said. “His delay tactics and theatrics were clearly unnecessary and harmed real Oklahomans in an attempt to benefit his trial attorney supporters.”
The proposed settlement would resolve a lawsuit that has been pending for nearly 20 years over allegations that poultry litter contributed to phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. The case was originally filed in 2005 by then-Attorney General Drew Edmondson against several poultry companies.
Stitt said Drummond had multiple opportunities to negotiate a settlement that would protect both Oklahoma’s environment and the livelihoods of family-owned poultry growers.
“After decades of litigation, the attorney general left the economic fates of these poultry growers to the courts despite ample opportunity to settle in a manner that protects the environment and the growers’ livelihoods,” the governor said.
Stitt also argued the proposed agreement could create a “regulatory checkerboard” and encourage additional lawsuits against Oklahoma’s agriculture industry.
Stitt echoed those criticisms in a post on X, writing, “This new settlement is a day late and a dollar short. And it comes only after years of dragging our chicken farmers through the mud to the benefit of his trial attorney supporters.” The governor also accused Drummond of failing to support Oklahoma’s agriculture industry, adding, “AG Drummond has proved time and time again that he has turned his back on Oklahoma’s agriculture community.”
The proposed settlement still requires court approval before it becomes final.
The governor noted that he had previously urged Drummond to negotiate a resolution, pointing to earlier statements from his office as well as letters sent to the attorney general and state agency leaders encouraging a settlement.
If approved, the agreement would bring an end to one of Oklahoma’s longest-running environmental lawsuits while establishing terms aimed at addressing water quality concerns in the Illinois River Watershed.
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt says Attorney General Drummond "has turned his back on Oklahomans" after proposed settlement, says it "comes only after years of dragging chicken farmers through the mud"
