KOCO FIVE NEWS KYLIE. THANK YOU. A STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAS SUBMITTED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION TO THE GOVERNOR AFTER ADMITTING TO CREATING AN INAPPROPRIATE AI GENERATED IMAGE. KOCO EVAN ONSTOT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS. EVAN, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE LATEST WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE, RIGHT. AND THIS IS A STORY THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING NOW FOR MONTHS. STATE REP JOHN WALDRON HERE. HE’S A DEMOCRAT FROM THE TULSA AREA. HE RESIGNED AS CHAIR OF THE OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY BACK IN DECEMBER. AND AT THE TIME HE SAID IT WAS FOR PERSONAL REASONS. WE NOW KNOW IT WAS AFTER SOME WILD ACCUSATIONS ABOUT A SEXUALIZED AI GENERATED VIDEO THAT WALDRON HIMSELF LATER CONFIRMED, NOT. DOC WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT THESE ALLEGATIONS, AND WALDRON’S CONFIRMATION OF THEM. WALDRON APPARENTLY HAD TAKEN A PICTURE WITH A WOMAN WHO WAS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING A RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE. HE THEN ADMITTED TO USING AI TO ANIMATE THAT PHOTO INTO A SHORT AND FAKE VIDEO OF HIM AND THE WOMAN KISSING. WALDRON EVEN SENT THAT VIDEO TO THE WOMAN. NOW, WALDRON WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION UNTIL EARLIER THIS WEEK, WHEN HE ENDED HIS CAMPAIGN UNDER PRESSURE FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS. AND IN A STATEMENT, WALDRON SAID, QUOTE, IN AN INSTANT I SACRIFICED MY INTEGRITY DOING SOMETHING WHICH WAS WRONG AND HURT SOMEONE. IT SHOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED, PERIOD. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE’S BEGUN COUNSELING AND THERAPY SESSIONS, BUT EVEN AFTER ENDING HIS CAMPAIGN MONDAY, CALLS CONTINUED FOR MANY OF HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO RESIGN FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AND LATE YESTERDAY, HE TOOK THAT STEP, WRITING A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE PLANS TO STEP DOWN OFFICIALLY OCTOBER 1ST. WE DO NOT KNOW IF REP
Oklahoma state representative resigns after admitting to creating AI-generated video
Oklahoma state Rep. John Waldron has resigned after admitting to creating an AI-generated video involving a woman considering a political run.
Updated: 6:38 PM CDT Apr 17, 2026
Oklahoma state Rep. John Waldron, a Democrat from Tulsa, has submitted his resignation to the governor after admitting to creating an inappropriate artificial intelligence-generated video and plans to officially step down on Oct. 1. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterThe controversy began in December when Waldron resigned as chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, citing personal reasons. It was later revealed that his resignation followed allegations about a sexualized AI-generated video, which Waldron confirmed. NonDoc first reported the allegations and Waldron’s confirmation. Waldron had taken a picture with a woman who was reportedly considering a run for political office. He admitted to using AI to animate the photo into a short, fake video of him and the woman kissing. Waldron then sent the video to the woman. Waldron was running for re-election until earlier this week, when he ended his campaign under pressure from fellow Democrats. In a statement, Waldron said, “In an instant, I sacrificed my integrity, doing something which was wrong and hurt someone. It shouldn’t have happened, period.”He also said he has begun counseling and therapy sessions. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Despite ending his campaign on Monday, calls from Democratic colleagues for Waldron to resign from the House of Representatives continued. Late Thursday, Waldron submitted his resignation letter to the governor. It is unclear whether Waldron plans to continue working at the Capitol until his resignation takes effect.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: Storms with tornado and damaging wind threat possible Friday in OklahomaAstronomers measure the mind-blowing power and speed of black hole jets for the first timeStrait of Hormuz is fully open, Trump and Iranian foreign minister saysFamily vanished while getting Christmas tree in 1958. Their remains were just identifiedFord recalls 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks to fix a gearshift issue
Oklahoma state Rep. John Waldron, a Democrat from Tulsa, has submitted his resignation to the governor after admitting to creating an inappropriate artificial intelligence-generated video and plans to officially step down on Oct. 1.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
The controversy began in December when Waldron resigned as chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, citing personal reasons. It was later revealed that his resignation followed allegations about a sexualized AI-generated video, which Waldron confirmed.
NonDoc first reported the allegations and Waldron’s confirmation. Waldron had taken a picture with a woman who was reportedly considering a run for political office. He admitted to using AI to animate the photo into a short, fake video of him and the woman kissing. Waldron then sent the video to the woman.
Waldron was running for re-election until earlier this week, when he ended his campaign under pressure from fellow Democrats.
In a statement, Waldron said, “In an instant, I sacrificed my integrity, doing something which was wrong and hurt someone. It shouldn’t have happened, period.”
He also said he has begun counseling and therapy sessions.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Despite ending his campaign on Monday, calls from Democratic colleagues for Waldron to resign from the House of Representatives continued.
Late Thursday, Waldron submitted his resignation letter to the governor. It is unclear whether Waldron plans to continue working at the Capitol until his resignation takes effect.
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