Full Breakdown
Oklahoma Secretary of State Arrested for Public Intoxication Outside a McDonald’s
8/21/2026, 5:20:44 AM
Core Event
On a Friday night in mid-August, Edmond police responded to a report of a man appearing drunk at a McDonald’s drive-through. Officers found Oklahoma Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak at the window, his vehicle parked nearby. The arrest affidavit notes “extremely slurred speech,” an “odor of an alcoholic beverage” on Lepak’s breath, and difficulty retrieving his identification. Lepak gave contradictory statements about his drinking, first denying any drink, then acknowledging a single beer and later claiming he had not finished it. He was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication; no breathalyzer or field-sobriety test was administered.
Background & Context
Lepak was appointed interim secretary of state by Governor Kevin Stitt in October 2025 and confirmed by the state Senate on April 28. The office handles gubernatorial decrees, legislative records, initiative petitions, and corporate filings. Lepak’s tenure follows two prior alcohol-related incidents: a May 2021 arrest for suspected intoxication while in control of a vehicle, and a 2022 public-intoxication citation to which he pleaded no contest. Those earlier cases have resurfaced in coverage of the recent arrest.
Official Statements & Responses
The Secretary of State’s office said Lepak was “waiting outside McDonald’s for dinner” and that he was not given a breathalyzer test. The office indicated Lepak will address the citation through the legal process. Governor Stitt has not publicly responded. Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a statement demanding that Stitt place Lepak on leave while an independent investigation proceeds and urging his removal from office.
On-the-Ground Reports
Body-camera footage released by Edmond police shows Lepak repeatedly stating he had attended a church gathering with other fathers earlier in the evening. The officer noted Lepak’s “extremely slurred speech,” the smell of alcohol, and an inability to maintain a coherent train of thought while discussing his children’s school and his desire for a McDonald’s meal. The officer warned Lepak that he was “lucky it’s not a DUI” before reading him his arrest for public intoxication.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Driving claim: Lepak asserted he did not drive to the restaurant, yet officers observed his vehicle parked at the site.
- Alcohol consumption: Lepak first denied drinking, later admitted a beer, then back-tracked to claim he did not finish it.
- Testing: No breathalyzer or field-sobriety test was administered, leaving his blood-alcohol level unverified.
- Prior citation details: Court records confirm a 2022 public-intoxication citation but do not disclose the circumstances, and the police report for that case has not been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I had a beer … that’s it,” — Benjamin Lepak
- “After reviewing footage from law enforcement body cameras, it is clear that Secretary of State Ben Lepak was thoroughly inebriated and very likely lied to law enforcement about how much he had to drink and how he and his car both arrived at the same place without him driving it,” — Gentner Drummond
- “I just want to eat my McDonalds,” — Benjamin Lepak
- “I am calling on the governor to place Lepak on leave while this matter is fully and independently investigated,” — Gentner Drummond
