Arkansas lawmakers recently questioned Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ staff about the purchase of a $19,000 lectern, which an audit suggested may have violated state laws. During a hearing, lawmakers expressed skepticism over the purchase and the handling of government records. Sanders’ top aides defended the purchase, calling it a legitimate transaction, but some lawmakers disagreed, calling it a waste of taxpayer resources and pointing out potential violations of state laws.
The lectern was purchased in June for $19,029.25 from a Virginia events company using a state credit card, with the Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursing the state later on. The total cost included the lectern itself, a consulting fee, a road case, as well as shipping, delivery, and a credit card processing fee. Some lawmakers supported Sanders, arguing that the purchase should not be politicized, while others criticized the expenditure as a waste of money since the lectern hasn’t been used at public events. Sanders’ office has denied media requests to view the lectern and plans to start using it now that the audit is completed.
The auditors also raised concerns about the lack of response from out-of-state vendors involved in the lectern’s purchase and highlighted potential violations of state law in the handling of property and public records. Sanders’ office disputed these findings, arguing that the laws cited in the audit do not apply to the governor and other constitutional officers. Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office supported this interpretation with a nonbinding legal opinion. Additionally, the audit accused Sanders’ office of tampering with public records by adding notes to the original invoice after the state GOP paid for the lectern.
During the hearing, Democratic Rep. Tippi McCullough raised questions about a video posted by Sanders featuring the lectern, a Jay-Z song snippet, and the words “Come and Take It” shortly after the audit was released. McCullough suggested that the video felt like premature celebration, but Sanders’ deputy chief of staff clarified that it was a tongue-in-cheek video created by a staff member on his own time, not using taxpayer money. The legislative auditor informed the panel about a second audit into travel and security records, which was requested last year and is still ongoing.
Overall, the purchase of the lectern by Governor Sanders’ office has sparked controversy and raised questions about compliance with state laws and handling of public funds. The audit findings, disputed by Sanders’ office, have led to a debate among lawmakers, with some defending the purchase as legitimate and others criticizing it as careless and wasteful. The issue of transparency and accountability in government spending has come to the forefront, prompting further scrutiny of future purchases and transactions involving public funds. As the investigation continues, the outcome of the audits and the response from lawmakers and officials will determine the impact on Governor Sanders’ administration and public trust in state governance.
