The Tulsa County Democratic Party in a news release contended most of the donors in question live in “modest middle or working class housing,” with several spouses not working outside of the home. One donor is a convicted felon, and several donors live in Rogers County or aren’t registered voters, according to the party. The party argues it’s “very unusual” for such people to contribute large sums of money.

Bledsoe emphasized this “isn’t a minor rule” violation but a misdemeanor or even a felony if a person has funneled $5,000 or more to a straw donor. He noted several times that the ethics complaint is against the donors and not Regalado’s campaign.

“We don’t need to find out what the deal is; there’s enough smoke about the circumstances that any person with a brain can figure out what was going on,” Bledsoe said. “And he should wash his hands of this kind of activity.”

Regalado appeared incredulous at the Democratic Party calling the homes of the donors “modest” and using that as basis to ask for an ethics complaint.

“Modest homes? That’s what we’re basing felony accusations on?” Regalado said. “Twenty-two years of law enforcement, folks, working a multitude of crimes. I know what to look for — it’s called probable cause; it’s called facts.”