TULSA – State Rep. Sean Roberts filed a slander lawsuit against one of the female GOP legislators who called on him to bow out of the State Labor Commissioner’s race after allegations surfaced that he abused and mistreated his ex-wife two decades ago.
Roberts (R-Hominy) sued Rep. Carol Bush (R-Tulsa) in Tulsa County District Court on Aug. 16, eight days after she and four other female lawmakers held a news conference in which they urged Roberts to withdraw from the statewide race.
Roberts alleges Bush “falsely claimed” that he has “committed acts of abuse and domestic violence against his ex-wife.” Bush’s comments “constitute slander per se,” Roberts claims. Bush “acted with malice, as she knew the statements were false, or in the alternative, made the statements … in reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of said statements…”
Roberts is seeking “in excess of $75,000” in damages from Bush. No hearing date had been set as of Aug. 19.
Bush is the House of Representatives chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Legislative Women’s Caucus. She was joined at the Aug. 8 news conference by Reps. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), Cindy Roe (R-Lindsay), Tammy Townley (R-Ardmore) and Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan).
Bush contributed $500 to the campaign of incumbent Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang), who is seeking a second four-year term.
Roberts accused Osborn of releasing the public documents that revealed the abuse allegations.
“I was not even acquainted with Mr. Roberts in the time frame” reflected in the court documents, Osborn said, “so this is certainly nothing orchestrated by me or by my campaign.”
Roberts’ then-wife filed for a protective order against him in 2002 as they were in the process of separating. In her request, Jennifer Roberts claimed her then-husband hit and disparaged her during their marriage. Jennifer Roberts also expressed concerns about Sean Roberts following her while they were separated, and a judge later determined he had illegally wiretapped her phone.
A Tennessee judge granted the couple a divorce in 2003. In granting the divorce, the judge determined that both parties were guilty of inappropriate marital conduct. Both adults called each other vile names and spoke ill of each other in front of their children, the judge said.
In comments released by Roberts’ campaign, his current wife and ex-wife both defended him as a good man and a loving husband and father.
Jennifer Roberts, in an Aug. 1 letter released by Roberts’ campaign, wrote that she has nothing derogatory to say about her ex-husband, with whom she has become friendly with in recent years.
Roberts’ current wife, Amber, said her husband is a God-fearing man. “I hope Oklahomans see through the lies and see Sean as the man I know him to be,” she said in a statement released by the campaign.
Roberts has been endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and various conservative groups.
Osborn and Roberts square off in the GOP runoff primary Aug. 23. The winner advances to the Nov. 8 general election, in which Libertarian Will Daugherty of Yukon and Democrat Jack Henderson of Tulsa also will appear on the ballot.