Thousands Of Dollars Charged To Stolen Inhofe Campaign Credit Card

Thousands of dollars have been charged to a stolen campaign credit card belonging to one of Oklahoma's Senators.

Rusty Appleton, Sen. Jim Inhofe's Campaign Manager, said the credit card was inside his wallet which was taken out of his car Friday morning. The burglary took place in the back parking lot of Senator Inhofe's campaign office on May Ave. in Oklahoma City.

"It's just one of those things. I was running late. I was in a hurry and absent-minded. It happens to the best of us," said Appleton.  

Appleton says the thieves used the Senator's campaign credit card and Appleton's personal credit cards to purchase nearly $3,500 worth of merchandise at several local businesses. The suspects spent $836.39 at the Office Depot on Memorial Dr. in Oklahoma City. 

Appleton says they got away with two tablets. They also spent nearly $900 at the Best Buy store in Moore buying a television and several iTunes gift cards. More than $1,500 was spent on several power tools at Atwoods in Norman.  

Appleton says the thieves attempted to use Inhofe's card at the Hibbett Sports store in Midwest City, but it was declined. Instead, the suspects used Appleton's personal credit card to buy $222.95 worth of clothes.

Appleton's card was also used to purchase gasoline at the 7-11 convenience store in the 4300 block of S. Bryant Ave.

Inhofe was in Oklahoma City Friday to attend an ODOT news conference and discuss transportation projects. Appleton says the Senator was not aware of what happened.  

Several store managers told Appleton and his colleagues that two people were seen using the stolen cards. One is described as a white male in his 40s with a beard. The other suspect is described as a younger female. 

Moore police say surveillance photos of the suspects could be released this weekend.