Pulaski County Prosecutor Clears Governor’s Office of Criminal Charges in ,000 Lectern Purchase
In a major development, Pulaski County Prosecutor Will Jones announced that criminal charges will not be filed against the office of Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders regarding the purchase of a ,000 lectern. This decision comes after a thorough review of the audit report and supporting documents, which initially suggested possible criminal conduct.
Although the audit raised concerns about potential violations of state laws on procurement, state property, and government records, Jones determined that there was insufficient proof of criminal conduct. The blue and wood-paneled lectern, which attracted significant national and local attention, was purchased using a state credit card and then reimbursed by the Republican Party of Arkansas with private funds.
The controversy surrounding the purchase centered around the addition of ‘to be reimbursed’ to the original invoice after the state GOP paid for it. Jones clarified that the executive assistant responsible for the notation did not knowingly make a false entry in or alter any public record. However, there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the notation was added with the purpose of impairing the verity, legibility, or availability of a public record.
The governor’s office and auditors disagreed on whether the purchasing and property rules Sanders was accused of violating apply to constitutional officers. The audit stated that the governor’s office did not follow the steps outlined in state law for disposing of state property. Jones noted the ambiguity surrounding the applicability of the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law to constitutional officers.
