Racist Recording Fallout Worries Oklahoma County Officials

Officials in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, including the sheriff and a county commissioner, were caught on tape discussing killing journalists and lynching Black people. One commissioner has resigned, and elected officials, including the governor, have called for the others to step down. The sheriff's office has only released one statement claiming the recording was illegally obtained. The incident has raised concerns about the negative impact on the community's reputation, which has been experiencing a tourism boom over the last two decades. McCurtain County has a history of lawlessness and racial strife, but residents hope to move forward and focus on the growing tourism industry.