Tulsa World: Roberts denies money-funneling claims

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Roberts denies money-funneling claims

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
Published: 2/9/2008 1:55 AM
Last Modified: 2/9/2008 4:00 AM

The latest on this story: ORU seeks dismissal of suit

Former Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts said Friday that he is "astounded" at the "ludicrous" allegation, made in a court filing Thursday, that more than $1 billion was funneled annually through ORU.

His attorneys issued a statement the day after former ORU accountant Trent Huddleston revised his lawsuit against the university and its leaders to make that allegation and claim that the money might have gone to former ORU regents.

Huddleston claims that he wrongfully lost his job partly because ORU leaders feared that he would talk about the alleged account used for funneling money, his lawsuit says.

The statement says, "It is inconceivable to Dr. Roberts that any such large-scale financial activity ever took place at ORU or" the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.

The statement claims that Huddleston and his attorney, Gary Richardson, made the allegation to gain publicity.

In a telephone interview, Richardson said ORU and its leaders have claimed all along that allegations first made in another of Richardson's lawsuits -- filed by three former professors -- were for publicity, "and yet, tremendous change has been happening."

Roberts resigned as president in November, and ORU's former governing board was replaced by a new board of trustees this month.

The Green family, which has given $70 million to ORU since late November, is requiring that ORU adopt shared governance, in which trustees, the president and faculty have defined roles and input into decisions.

Richardson also said, in response to Roberts' statement: "Tell them to release the audit. Find out whether it's a publicity stunt or not."

ORU's former board of regents hired an outside law firm last year to audit ORU's finances and more after the former professors sued ORU and its leaders. They alleged in their lawsuit that Roberts and his family had misused ORU and Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association money.

ORU has not released that audit, and a spokesman again declined to do so Friday.

Roberts has denied all allegations in the professors' lawsuit, and his statement Friday said he denies all allegations in Huddleston's lawsuit.

Neither Roberts nor the other defendants have been served with the lawsuit, reports show, so Roberts has not had an opportunity to file a legal response to Huddleston's claims.

Roberts, Richards and others involved in the professors' lawsuit are not allowed to talk about that suit outside of court, but no gag order exists in Huddleston's suit.

April Marciszewski 581-8475
april.marciszewski@tulsaworld.com

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment insider, ok (2/9/2008 2:36:27 AM) Same old stuff as always. Everybody needs to shut up and let this get cleared up in the legal system. Which I have a feeling it will get thrown out anyway. This is just getting to much like a joke.
	Report Comment M.S., (2/9/2008 4:41:38 AM) #1 ,, Some joke. A climate of fear at ORU, corrupt, co-opted BOR out, Richard and Lindsay Roberts out, new leadership. It's a dynamic, moving story of great interest to studends, alumni, faculty and donors. ----- More to the point of the article: "TELL THEM TO RELEASE THE AUDIT. FIND OUT WHETHER ITS A PUBLCITY STUNT OR NOT," ORU's former board of regents hired an outside law firm last year to audit ORU's finances and more after the former professors sued ORU and its leaders. They alleged in their lawsuit that Roberts and his family had misused ORU and Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association money. ORU has not released that audit, and a spokesman again declined to do so Friday. ----- Why not? What's there to hide? Why hasn't Green seen it? If the story is false, simply put it to rest by releasing the audit? Until it is legitimate questions will be asked. Those who call the reported unfounded have no idea what they're talking about. They haven't seen the audit either. Why not end the secrecy and release the audit and put all the speculation to rest? As long as that audit is kept secret the cloud will be over ORU and alumni and donors would be wise to hold back on their donations. The past has to be dealt with and put to rest Mr. Green before the future can addressed., Agreeing to a cover-up --- and thereby encouraging speculation -- is no way to start the "new" ORU. Use your good offices to get this audit report out into the open and move on go the future. .
	Report Comment Alan Pike, (2/9/2008 5:52:52 AM) Good point # 2 Why not get the audit-report ou, end the speculation and move on to he important job of re-building ORU's tarnished reputation? Let the facts in that audit-report speak for themselves. That could put an end to this speculation once and for all and let the new BOT and Mr. Green get on with their work without this cloud hanging over their heads..
	Report Comment Alden, Tulsa (2/9/2008 5:58:26 AM) ORU students do not deserve this. Doctor Roberts, Chancellor Roberts. Snake oil salesman Roberts. Any of you have more? In the meantime, Richard and Lindsay seem to be on channel 23 for 24/7. Do not eat a meal while watching them, or have Pepcid standing by.
	Report Comment Observer, Tulsa (2/9/2008 6:25:53 AM) Dr. Roberts? Oh, please. Makes me want to gag. The Tulsa World properly called him former ORU president, with a huge emphasis on FORMER. Doctor my foot! I guess inflated titles are a big thing over there at ORU, but not with the rest of us.
	Report Comment Not until....., (2/9/2008 6:26:17 AM) That audit won't be "put out" anywhere, until these lawsuits are resolved.
	Report Comment Sheppard, Greenvile (2/9/2008 6:28:30 AM) The morethings change, the things stay the same.
	Report Comment jules, tulsa (2/9/2008 6:42:12 AM) My Pastor is a former business regent for ORU. Should I be worried? Were they all aware of what was going on?
	Report Comment Former Student, Joplin (2/9/2008 7:13:11 AM) I hear the plaintiff has bank records/accounting records that support his claim of the amount of money going through ORU. Maybe the IRS or the US Attorney's office should look into this case.
	Report Comment "You Hear", (2/9/2008 7:55:19 AM) Former, "you hear", Attorney Richardson " hears", yet has no proof of any claims. He said, she said, yada yada yada. Lets get some credible attorneys on this case. Oh, I forgot, credible attorneys (translated ethical) probably wouldn't take the case without proof & evidence.
	Report Comment Midwest, (2/9/2008 8:15:39 AM) $100,000,000 (Less than) = Annual cash flow of ORU/OREA . $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 $100,000,000 = (More than) $1 Billion per year cash flow--Lawsuit. . This looks like a joke to me. . This is not going to show up on any existing audit. If there was any inkling of truth, this would be a job for the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
	Report Comment Zeke, Tulsa (2/9/2008 8:18:42 AM) Doctor???? That's the most laughable thing I've heard. How many of these preachers are walking around with either an honorary doctorate, or one from GED (Get Easy Degree) university? I wonder how many of these preachers actually have an earned doctorate from a legitimate institution? I know several preachers who got their doctorates online. In twenty years, every preacher will have a doctorate. They are so easy to get. I'd be embarrassed to call my self "Doctor" with a degree from certain schools.
	Report Comment M.S., (2/9/2008 8:20:13 AM) . Hide the facts. Then shout "wait for the facts." #10 you miss the point Get the audit-report out. That should be proof to support the allegations or put at end to the rumors. #6 "audit report won't be put out until the legal cases are over" -- comment: then comes more excuses to continue hiding them. If they cleared RR, he'd be the FIRST to want them out. They'd exonerate him legally and in the public eye. But, guess what? They'll always find excuses to cover the audit report and scream -- "wait for the facts." I get it. Hide the facts, then shout "wait for the facts." The audit report is still hidden for one reason: it contains proof of the charges against RR and his complicit enablers. Otherwise, they'd rush to get it it.
	Report Comment Mark, Broken ARrow (2/9/2008 9:06:16 AM) Gary Richardson is visiting Caribbean banking centers as we speak.
	Report Comment John, (2/9/2008 9:18:37 AM) He might be but it is with money he earned and can account for.
	Report Comment Headline News, Gotham (2/9/2008 9:28:27 AM) His money give me a break. Richardson could be a character for Tyler Perry in one of his Madea comedy plays.
	Report Comment Bill, Tulsa (2/9/2008 9:29:06 AM) When I think about this mess one thought come to mind. Did richard quit due to the fired tearcher (no) did richard quit about the alleged actions of his wife with boys(no) not until the lawsuit from someone in accounting who might know something which could harm him. If richard wanted to prove he is truly a man living an honorable live for god he would have this audit report printed on the front page of this paper. Any thing less appears like he has something to hide.
	Report Comment Fredrik, The twon that oral built (2/9/2008 9:49:35 AM) ...and everyone was under the impression that those giant hands at ORU were the hands of Christ, if we could see the rest of the person we'd find a Roberts attached. I am so sick of hearing about this, I thought there was a gag order for everyone. Please judge keep them quiet....until the guilty verdict.
	Report Comment DC, (2/9/2008 9:51:22 AM) "Trent Huddleston revised his lawsuit against the university and its leaders to make that allegation and claim that the money might have gone to former ORU regents. " "Revised"? "Might" have gone to former ORU regents? Anyone can say anything and make the Tulsa World. Better yet, why did it have to be revised? Couldn't get it right the first time? Just sounds fishy to me. Fishy=gossip. BTW, where did Richardson get his law degree??
	Report Comment M.S., (2/9/2008 10:14:38 AM) So, put your vitriol into demanding the audit-report be published. If it clears Richard and Lindsay, we all clam up and go away.. If it doesn't, you claim up. Oh, i get it. it's supposed to stay hidden so people like you can say, "wait for the truth to come out." If that audit-report cleared RR and LR, they'd read it on TV. It's buried because it caught the crooks in the act.
	Report Comment Been There, (2/9/2008 10:29:58 AM) I tend to agree with #21 M.S. Richard caved too quickly. There's no way I ever thought he'd give up ORU and his "kingdom." Look at how many people have been fired, etc., just to protect his kingdom. And now he's bailed--why?
	Report Comment M.S., (2/9/2008 10:39:30 AM) 22 Not only did Richard cave, but the tv evangelists on the BOR started jumping ship. Something lit a fire under them. When you look at he stampede of those heading for the hills, about the time the audit report came out, you get an idea why it's been buried. There's clearly stuff in there that sent the rats scurrying for the hills, and is keeping it buried. Meanwhile their apologists in say "wait for the facts." Stick with your suit Trent. Hold their feet to the fire until the rock is turned over for the world to see. They mystery is why Mr. Green didn't bother to find out what the audit-report contained. Maybe he doesn't want to know. Is part of the take-over agreement between the two families to keep any evidence of wrong-doing buried? To be complicit in a continuing cover-up? if so, that's no way to start the "new" ORU.
	Report Comment Take a Breath, (2/9/2008 10:49:10 AM) If this joker had any proof and intellegence he would have gone to the government not to Rich ard son. He would have gotten a reward much larger than anything this lawsuite will ever bring and he would not have to share it with a lawyer. Forrest Gump's mamma always said "Stupid is as stupid does",
	Report Comment Pelagius, Norman (2/9/2008 10:54:21 AM) #19, Fredrik, I asked the same question on another page about the gag order, and April Marcizewski posted that the gag order only applies to the Brooker suit. In fact, she says, the people sued by Huddleston have not been served with their notice of the suit yet. Wonder if they're reading it here, along with all the postings wondering what those peple were thinking. Bill, #18, from Tulsa, is right. If there was nothing to hide, that audit report would be all over the front page of the TW, or as M.S. says in #21, RR/LR would read it on TV. The reality is that one lawsuit started this process towards cleaning house, and anybody who knows of wrong-doing or questionable activity is only getting relief and getting things out in the open can only expose it through lawsuits. The BOR obviously wasn't interested in hearing of problems or solving them. Lawsuits seem to be the only way to bring the issues to a head. Whatever people may think of Huddleston or Richardson, I doubt anyone would file a lawsuit with these kinds of claims without some shred of evidence. And #23, M. S., I too am curous what Green knew and when he knew it, and what, if anything, he intended to do about it.
	Report Comment Junie, Tulsa, Ok (2/9/2008 10:55:53 AM) Green knows what the audit report says. Huddleston is a liar and fraud. There is no billion dollar account. If there was, and Huddleston says he saw it himself, then he embezzled all of it! Richardson stands for sensationalism in the media and Tulsa World and all the local stations fall for it every time. After all, ORU in the headlines sells newspapers, right? Why was the story not continued on ANY of the local stations last night??? Because the allegations are NOT true! Take a hike Huddleston, good look getting a job anywhere locally! Also good luck when you meet your maker and have to be accountable for your actions!!

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