Scandal Rocks Red State House as Lawmaker’s Career Crumbles Overnight
Oklahoma Lawmaker Resigns After Guilty Plea in Forged Check Case
Oklahoma Democratic Rep. Ayshia “Ajay” Pittman abruptly resigned from the state House of Representatives Wednesday, hours after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges tied to a falsified check scheme involving the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
Her departure comes just days before the 2026 legislative session is set to begin.
Pittman, who represented House District 99 in Oklahoma City, admitted to Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Second-Degree Forgery, and Violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.
She will serve a seven-year deferred sentence and make restitution for misused campaign funds to a charitable organization jointly agreed upon with authorities.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond stressed the gravity of the offense.
“Public officials hold a sacred trust with the people they serve. When that trust is violated for personal gain, it strikes at the very heart of our institutions,” Drummond said in a press release. “This office will continue to hold elected officials accountable when they abuse their positions and betray the public’s confidence. No one is above the law in Oklahoma.”
The charges follow a campaign finance investigation that began in mid-2025.
Prosecutors allege Pittman directed the creation of a falsified $2,500 cashier’s check to mislead the Ethics Commission into believing she had made payments toward a $35,000 restitution agreement.
Investigators later confirmed that the bank never issued the check, according to KGOU.
Court filings indicate Pittman enlisted Trena Byas, an executive assistant in the Oklahoma State Senate, to electronically alter and transmit the check.
Emails and messages reviewed by investigators reportedly show Byas followed Pittman’s instructions to manipulate the document and submit it through a computer network.
Byas, who previously worked for Pittman’s mother, also faces charges in connection with the scheme, Tulsa Today reported.
Search warrants were executed at both Pittman’s Capitol office and her Midwest City residence, resulting in the seizure of laptops, tablets, phones, external drives, and financial records.
Bank statements reportedly showed questionable campaign-related expenditures, including electronics, clothing, and dining, which investigators said did not align with legitimate campaign use.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) condemned Pittman’s conduct.
“Her resignation follows serious and proven violations of ethics laws,” he said in a statement, according to Trending Politics. “This conduct falls well below the standard expected of anyone serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.”
Democratic House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson acknowledged the resignation was necessary.
“While everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the formal charges made it impossible for Rep. Pittman to continue serving House District 99 effectively.”
Pittman had previously been suspended from House Democratic Caucus activities in October 2025 when allegations first surfaced.
“The Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus remains committed to accountability and transparency for all elected officials,” Munson said.
With her resignation, District 99 will remain unrepresented until a special election is held.
Separately, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission approved a settlement agreement with Pittman, concluding its review of her campaign conduct.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining oversight and enforcing campaign finance compliance.
Pittman’s guilty plea and immediate resignation underscore that elected officials are not immune from legal consequences when public trust and ethics are violated.
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