The Lectern Controversy: Pulaski County Prosecutor Makes a Decision
On Friday, Pulaski County Prosecutor Will Jones made headlines by announcing that no criminal charges would be filed against Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office regarding the purchase of a ,000 lectern. This decision followed a thorough review of the audit report and supporting documents, which Jones determined failed to provide sufficient proof of criminal conduct.
The lectern, which drew widespread attention nationally and locally, was purchased last June using a state credit card from an events company in Virginia. The Republican Party of Arkansas later reimbursed the state for the purchase. Sanders’ office claimed the use of the state credit card was an accounting error, and they received the lectern in August.
The controversy arose when it was discovered that similar lectern models were available online for significantly lower prices. Additionally, the Arkansas legislature approved a review of the lectern purchase last year, and the subsequent audit found that Sanders’ office potentially violated public records laws by adding the words “to be reimbursed” to the original invoice after the state GOP paid for it.
Despite these findings, Jones clarified that the executive assistant responsible for the notation did not knowingly make false entries or alter public records. However, the prosecutor acknowledged that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the notation was added with the purpose of impairing public records.
The dispute centers on whether the governor’s office followed state laws on procurement and disposal of state property. While the audit found potential violations, Jones noted the ambiguity surrounding the applicability of these laws to constitutional officers. As a result, no criminal charges will be pursued in this matter.
