Oklahoma Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak was taken into custody on a public intoxication complaint after police body camera footage captured him allegedly telling officers, with slurred speech, that he simply wanted to eat his McDonald’s.
Lepak, who officially stepped into the statewide role in April, denied drinking before officers placed him in handcuffs outside a McDonald’s in Edmond, Oklahoma, on Friday, according to KFOR.
The encounter began after a 911 caller asked authorities to check on a man outside the restaurant, saying he had been there for some time and appeared intoxicated, though he was not creating a disturbance.
Officers arrived at the fast-food location and found Lepak holding a brown McDonald’s takeout bag.
“I’m just gonna be honest, people are calling because they’re worried about you being intoxicated,” an officer told him in the bodycam video.
Lepak, 42, immediately insisted he had not consumed alcohol, though the footage appeared to show him slurring as he spoke with police.
During the exchange, he said he had only come from about a “block” away and first denied driving to the McDonald’s before later walking that claim back.
As officers continued questioning him, Lepak told them he had been at church earlier in the evening.
“How much have you had to drink tonight?” a second cop asked.
“I haven’t,” a slurring Lepak said. “I don’t want to.. I want to eat my McDonald’s,” he added before rambling that his kids had started a new school.
The cop wasn’t convinced by the politician’s tale and asked, “How much have you had to drink?” revealing they could smell booze on his breath.
“Stop lying to me. I don’t like being lied to,” he blasted.
Lepak continued to ramble before admitting, “I had a beer. I stopped to get McDonald’s.”
“You had one beer?” the cop asked, to which Lepak slowly replied, “Yes, yes,” before claiming he had “less than that.”
Lepak was repeatedly told to put his bag of food on the floor – an order he eventually complied with – before being cuffed.
“You’re under arrest for public intoxication,” the cop said. “You’re lucky it’s not for a DUI [driving under the influence]. You understand?”
“No I don’t,” the pol sensationally responded.
“Why do you not understand?” the cop said as he continued to handcuff him.
“What have I done?” Lepak said, seemingly unaware he appeared drunk.
Cops then became aware that Lepak had previously been busted for a DUI offense in May 2021.
He pleaded guilty to charges of actual physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated and transporting an open container of beer. He was sentenced to community service and probation.
“No kidding,” one officer scoffed, hearing about the politician’s past charge.
Lepak was then led to a patrol car by one cop, while the other officer carried his McDonald’s bag.
“Mr. Lepak was waiting outside McDonald’s for dinner,” his spokesperson told KOTV following the arrest.
“He was not given a breathalyzer test. Mr. Lepak will address the ticket appropriately through the legal process.”
Lepak isn’t planning to resign as Secretary of State, two sources told the Oklahoman.
Lepak was appointed Acting Secretary of State by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Oct. 2, 2025, succeeding Josh Cockroft.
Cockroft, who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives between 2010 and 2018, didn’t give a reason for his resignation.
“I’m excited for the next chapter to begin, which will officially be announced soon!” he teased on social media.
Lepak was retroactively appointed Secretary of State in January 2026 but only formally assumed the role after being confirmed by the State Senate on April 28.
His term ends on Jan. 11, 2027.
