'Non-binary' Oklahoma Democrat censured for harboring fugitive accused of attacking trooper

The Oklahoma House of Representatives censured a Democrat state representative for harboring a fugitive who allegedly assaulted a highway patrol trooper.

Rep. Mauree Turner, who refers to herself in the plural and is said to be America's first "non-binary" Muslim lawmaker, will have her assignments restored if she offers an apology — something she has refused to do.

Another leftist attack on democracy

House Bill 2177 passed 80-18 along party lines on Feb. 28, angering transsexual activists. The legislation, authored by Republican Reps. Kevin West and Jim Olsen, prohibits health care professionals from referring, performing, or attempting to perform confusion-affirming genital mutilation procedures and hormone treatments on any individual under 18 years of age.

Tulsa World reported that the legislation, sent to the Senate last week, would also bar state funds or private insurers from covering such procedures for anyone, including adults, who would instead have to pay for the alterations themselves.

Republicans emphasized that the bill was aimed at protecting children from irreversible, life-changing transmogrifications, reported KOKH-TV.

"This legislation is about protecting our children from those who would seek to profit from their gender confusion," said West. "As a state, we must not be partner to irreversible health practices that permanently change the bodies of our children before they are of an age where they can fully understand the consequences of their decisions."

Olsen said, "Even one child who undergoes a life-altering procedure and later laments their decision is one too many. I'm proud to stand against these reprehensible actions and proud to protect Oklahoma's children."

Rep. J.J. Humphrey (R) reportedly likened getting surgery to accommodate the delusion that one is transsexual to jumping off a building because one supposes he is Superman.

"The very fact you have to request a surgery to change your sex, Scooby-Doo would call that a clue," said Humphrey. "And Scooby-Doo would also say, 'Ruh-roh.'"

Ahead of the vote, the crowd of LGBT activists who had gathered to watch reportedly broke out into sporadic meltdowns, with one person shouting, "You're killing children."

After the vote, transsexual activists reportedly hurled fluids at Olsen and fellow Republican Rep. Bob Ed Culver.

KFOR reported that Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers intervened and attempted to escort the activists out; however, at the fourth floor stairwell, one of the radicals threw fluids once more, this time at the trooper.

When the trooper attempted to make an arrest, the activist allegedly attacked the trooper.

During the attack, the second activist, who had allegedly interfered with the arrest, fled and was given refuge in Democratic Rep. Mauree Turner's office.

"When we go up to the representative’s office, we were not allowed in, even from opening the door," said Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster.

Justice delivered

Culver said in a statement, "If water being thrown on me had been the extent of the action taken, I would not have given it a second thought. However, I cannot stand by while our highway patrolmen are assaulted for simply doing their jobs."

"Taking all of that into consideration, I have decided to press charges against the individual who assaulted me and the patrolman and will cooperate fully with the law enforcement investigation," added Culver.

Both transsexual activists involved in the incident were ultimately arrested.

Savannah Mitchell, arrested at the Capitol, was accused of throwing fluids at Culver.

KOKH-TV reported that Austin Ross, the man Turner reportedly hid in her office, was arrested March 6 and charged with assault and battery on a police officer.

Court documents indicate that Ross tried to interfere with Mitchell's arrest, grabbing the trooper's hands to free his compatriot.

Following a 81-19 House vote, Turner was censured on March 7 for her part in impeding the restoration of order and allegedly harboring Ross.

On March 7, the state House issued a statement, noting that Turner "harbored a fugitive wanted for questioning in conjunction with the alleged assault inside of their House office and rejected multiple requests by law enforcement to question the individual."

House Speaker Charles McCall (R) said, "Last week, a member of the House of Representatives and a highway patrolman were assaulted after an otherwise peaceful protest turned violent. Following this assault, one individual was apprehended by law enforcement while another involved in the incident fled the scene. It came to the attention of law enforcement that the individual who fled was hiding in the official office of a member of the House."

"This member knowingly and willfully impeded a law enforcement investigation, harboring a fugitive and repeatedly lying to officers, and used their official office and position to thwart attempts by law enforcement to make contact with a suspect of the investigation," said McCall. "I want to make something very clear: I will not allow members of the House of Representatives to use their House assigned offices and official positions to impede law enforcement officers carrying out investigations or making arrests in the State Capitol."

McCall underscored that Turner's conduct was "inappropriate, and potentially criminal."

Turner will be removed from all committee assignments unless she issues a formal apology, including to the Highway Patrol, reported the Associated Press.

Unrepentant

While Turner need only apologize to resume her committee assignments, she emphasized she is not sorry for harboring a fugitive who reportedly lashed out at members of law enforcement.

"I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do," said Turner. She added, "It’s something that I actively refuse to do."

House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson suggested that Republicans in the House were trying to "silence a member who does not think like them, act like them, dress like them, who challenges their positions, especially when they are running legislation to harm people in our community."

The LGBT activist group Human Rights Campaign suggested that the state House's censure of Turner, not the reported transsexual activist attacks on police and lawmakers, amounted to extremism.

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