OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Allie Friesen has come under intense scrutiny following revelations about her past financial troubles and mounting concerns over the management of millions of taxpayer dollars within her department.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is currently running for governor, publicly criticized Friesen Wednesday night, sharing state Tax Commission documents that revealed liens filed against her for several years of unpaid taxes. Drummond questioned how someone with a history of personal financial issues could be entrusted with overseeing hundreds of millions of taxpayer funds.
“How can we expect a taxpayer who doesn’t properly handle their own personal finances to be in charge of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars?” Drummond wrote on social media, highlighting the documents that also showed a lien on Friesen’s property was released just one day before Governor Kevin Stitt announced her appointment as Commissioner.
The governor’s office responded, asserting that Friesen’s taxes have since been paid in full. “This is a desperate campaign tactic by Gentner Drummond. Oklahomans see through his game, and I’m sure they truly wish he would return to the work their taxpayers are paying him to do,” a spokesperson said.
The controversy comes amid growing concerns about the department’s financial oversight. A recent audit by the state auditor’s office detailed troubling findings and preliminary recommendations, including the urgent hiring of a qualified Chief Financial Officer with state government experience. The audit also called for a review of recent executive hires and scrutiny of ongoing terminations to ensure they are not retaliatory.
In the midst of the political firestorm, Commissioner Friesen sent an internal email to department employees addressing Drummond’s social media accusations. In the message, Friesen acknowledged the past tax liens but emphasized that the issues have long been resolved and asserted that the attacks are politically motivated.
“This is a non-issue being weaponized for political gain,” Friesen wrote. She accused Drummond of abusing his public office and engaging in a campaign of political bullying, attributing his anger to a past decision she made to remove him from a position of influence.
Friesen’s message aimed to rally her staff, framing the conflict as part of a broader effort to undermine the department’s work amid efforts to reform Oklahoma’s mental health system.
“Our mission remains clear. Our purpose is stronger than ever. And as your Commissioner, I will continue to stand firmly—for you, for our organization, and for the people we serve,” Friesen concluded.
As the political and financial controversies unfold, questions remain about the future leadership and financial management of one of Oklahoma’s most critical state agencies.
