OKLAHOMA CITY — What began as a stunning allegation from two education board members has now spiraled into a political firestorm. A third official has come forward, confirming disturbing reactions to what he describes as “something clearly inappropriate” on a television inside Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during a closed executive session.
The July 24th meeting of the State Board of Education has now become the focus of an official investigation — and possibly, an impeachment probe.
Chris Van Dehende, an Oklahoma State Department of Education board member, joined colleagues Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson in sounding the alarm. While Van Dehende says he didn’t personally see the images, what he did see was damning.
“All I can say is, having been in the room — not seeing what was on the TV — but seeing the reactions to Becky Carson primarily, and Ryan Walters’ reaction when he spun around and saw the TV,” Van Dehende said. “Something clearly was on that TV that shouldn’t have been on that TV.”
Van Dehende initially assumed the screen was airing a sensational tabloid-style program like the Jerry Springer Show. But that illusion was shattered by the shocked responses in the room. “Based on Walters’ reaction,” he added, “it was clear this was not the case.”
The controversy exploded after reports from The Oklahoman and NonDoc revealed that Deatherage and Carson witnessed nude women on Walters’ television during the meeting. Walters has since lashed out, calling the allegations politically motivated, and dismissing the reports as “junk tabloid lies.”
But the damage is growing — and so is bipartisan concern.
State Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, confirmed he spoke directly with the two original board members who say they saw the nude images. Lowe admitted he left the room during a break and didn’t witness the moment himself but found their accounts credible. “I have no question that this is true,” he said.
Now, even former Republican Rep. Mark McBride is speaking out. “I think the board members are professional people. They don’t have any reason to lie,” said McBride. “He’s never taken any responsibility for much of anything that he’s done… I believe the board members saw what they saw.”
McBride didn’t stop there — he floated the possibility that this moment could mark the tipping point for Walters’ political downfall.
“I suppose possibly the state legislature [could] begin impeachment proceedings,” Van Dehende echoed.
McBride, bluntly critical of the Superintendent’s entire record, added: “Putting this to the side — just forgetting this — being 50th in education is, to me, an impeachable offense.”
He also pointed a finger at Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, calling Walters “a product of Governor Stitt,” and saying responsibility lies not just with Walters, but also with House Speaker Charles McCall.
The Speaker’s office has already responded to the growing crisis. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert called for a third-party investigation and demanded that Walters unlock and surrender all relevant devices.
“These are serious allegations,” Hilbert said. “A prompt and transparent review should quickly clear his name — if no wrongdoing occurred.”
But questions remain unanswered. Walters’ office has not responded to multiple media requests for comment. A spokesperson has simply labeled the report “a junk tabloid lie.”
Governor Stitt’s office also declined to comment when contacted by local press.
Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services has launched an official inquiry, and legislative leaders from both chambers say they want the truth — and quickly.
At the center of the storm is Walters himself, a figure already known for sparking controversy. He’s led aggressive efforts to remove books from public schools for “pornographic” content and has repeatedly positioned himself as a defender of “family values.” Yet now, amid a scandal involving actual nude images in his state office during an education meeting, that moral authority is crumbling.
Board member Ryan Deatherage was blunt: “We hold educators to the strictest of standards when it comes to explicit material. The standard for the superintendent should be no different.”
As of now, three board members — two of them Republican appointees — have either confirmed seeing the images or witnessing the fallout. One lawmaker is calling for device turnover. Another is speaking the word impeachment.
Whether Walters survives this storm remains to be seen. But in a state already ranked among the lowest in education outcomes, the last thing Oklahoma expected was this kind of exposure.