BBB to audit state Sen.Rick Brinkley

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The Better Business Bureau serving eastern Oklahoma is set to begin a financial audit amid an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation probe into state Sen. Rick Brinkley, who is accused of embezzling funds.

Brinkley’s attorney, Mack Martin, told The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/1AIrUX8 ) on Monday that his client didn’t embezzle money and has cooperated with the investigation, which began in January.

The Republican senator from Owasso had previously served as the president of the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa and was fired by the agency’s board in April.

Martin says Brinkley in January mistakenly paid the bureau nearly $50,000 from campaign funds rather than writing a personal check. Brinkley reimbursed his campaign in April.

Interim President Carrie Hurt says a full financial audit will begin Tuesday.