‘It Looks Bad’: Checkgate Investigation Reverberates Across Wyoming

A controversy over campaign checks handed out on the House floor has mushroomed into a statewide political crisis, with elected officials, party leaders and ordinary citizens demanding answers. The incident, now dubbed “Checkgate,” has triggered criminal and legislative investigations and drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

“It looks horribly bad,” said former Democratic Rep. Stan Blake, who served 14 years in the Legislature and never witnessed anything similar. “In all my years, I never saw anybody offer campaign checks.”

The checks originated with Teton County donor Don Grasso, who wrote $1,500 checks to 10 Republicans with ties to the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. He gave them to conservative activist Rebecca Bextel, expecting she would mail them. Instead, Bextel hand-delivered them on the House floor after adjournment Feb. 9. A photograph taken by Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, shows Bextel handing a check to Rep. Darin McCann, R-Rock Springs, with Rep. Marlene Brady, R-Green River, in the background holding what appears to be another.

McCann and Rep. Joe Webb, R-Lyman, have acknowledged receiving checks on the floor. Former Freedom Caucus chair Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, told a reporter he accepted a check—but not on the floor. Other intended recipients, including House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, have remained silent or declined to confirm.

The fallout has spread far beyond Cheyenne. The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating possible bribery. Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order banning campaign contributions in state buildings. The House has formed a special investigative committee. The Senate has unanimously condemned the practice and is drafting new rules.

Sweetwater County Commissioner Taylor Jones didn’t mince words during a regular meeting. “This is an absolute stain on Wyoming, the Legislature, and actually our county as well,” he said, noting that legislators receive ethics training and should know better.

Natrona County GOP Chair Rob Hendry, who’s been engaging with the Legislature since the 1980s, said ordinary citizens rarely access the House floor. “You’d send a note in, and they choose to go out and talk to you,” he said. “Ordinary citizens just don’t go on to the floor like that.”

The timing raised eyebrows because candidates haven’t filed to run—the filing period is in May. “It just doesn’t look good for them to hand you some money and you haven’t even put your name in to run,” Hendry said.

Wyoming GOP Chair Bryan Miller emphasized Bextel wasn’t representing the party. “Regardless, the alleged act … needs to be investigated by relevant authorities to determine appropriateness,” he said.

For Gillette resident Jenny Sorenson, a longtime Freedom Caucus critic, the incident validated concerns about outside influence. She sees wealthy donors “trying to shape Wyoming into their own image—one that is more friendly to millionaire and billionaire investors than the working people.”

Sorenson remains skeptical of the investigations. “I’m really worried that they’re going to create so much smoke,” she said, “we’re not really going to get to the bottom of it.”

The Sweetwater County GOP issued a statement urging patience: “We fully respect the work of the Wyoming House Select Committee and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, and it is important that their investigations be allowed to proceed without interference or premature conclusions.”

But the statement also made clear the party’s concern: “The receipt of campaign donations on the House floor raises legitimate concerns and falls short of the separation the public expects.”