Official portrait of former Oklahoma state Rep. Ty Burns (R-Morrison) (Photo source: Oklahoma House of Representatives)

Two days after pleading guilty to domestic abuse and assault, Oklahoma state Rep. Ty Burns (R-Morrison) said he will officially resign from his position effective Oct. 1.

“It is in the best interest of the people I serve in House District 35 and, most importantly, my family, to step down from my position,” Burns wrote in a statement. “I take full responsibility for my actions and am getting counseling with my family. Although not an excuse for my actions, I am receiving intensive treatment for issues from my military service that I have long ignored as a problem. I am confident this will make me a better husband and father.”

Burns has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2018 after a career in the United States Army. His guilty pleas from last Thursday stemmed from an incident in April, where Burns got into an altercation with his wife, mother-in-law and 16-year-old daughter.

According to a District Court of Pawnee County affidavit, Burns threatened to kill his mother-in-law while she was driving away in a van with his daughter. Burns then chased the van and rammed it off the road with his pickup truck. Burns’ wife also reported a previous incident where the lawmaker gouged her eye during an argument.

Several lawmakers from both political parties called for Burns’ resignation after his guilty plea, including Gov. Kevin Stitt (R).

“Domestic violence leaves lasting scars on families and it can’t be minimized or overlooked,” Stitt said in a statement. “Rep. Burns’ decision to step down is the right one for his family, constituents and the Legislature.”