OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A member of the board that oversees Oklahoma’s 25 state colleges and universities is stepping down after facing criticism over his role representing drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in its legal fight with the state over the opioid crisis.
Attorney Andrew Lester announced his resignation on Tuesday from the nine-member Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, saying he didn’t want the situation to become a distraction for his fellow regents.
Democratic state Rep. Collin Walke of Oklahoma City last week said he was “astounded” to learn Lester was working on behalf of Johnson & Johnson and called for his resignation.
Lester says in a statement that he had sought the opinion of the regents’ legal counsel before agreeing to the work.
He was appointed by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin in 2016.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.