An audit requested by lawmakers has found that Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office potentially violated state laws on purchasing, state property, and government records when it purchased a $19,000 lectern for the Republican governor. The audit has referred its findings to local prosecutors and the attorney general, prompting a hearing on the matter. Sanders’ office has dismissed the audit’s findings as “deeply flawed” and a “waste of taxpayer resources and time,” stating that no laws were broken and no fraud was committed.
The purchase of the lectern, which was approved by Arkansas lawmakers last year, had drawn nationwide attention due to its cost and significance. The lectern, which was bought in June with a state credit card for $19,029.25, was reimbursed by the Republican Party of Arkansas in September following scrutiny. While Sanders’ office has called the use of the state credit card an accounting error, the lectern has not been seen at Sanders’ public events. A video posted by Sanders featuring the lectern with the words “Come and Take It” was released after the audit.
The audit raised concerns about the cost of the lectern and the lack of response from out-of-state vendors involved in the purchase. Sanders’ office and auditors disputed whether the governor and other constitutional officers are subject to the same purchasing and property rules that were allegedly violated. The audit also highlighted potential violations related to tampering with public records and the shredding of a shipping document. While Sanders’ office disputed these findings, the audit raised questions about the legality of these actions.
Following the audit, Pulaski County Prosecutor Will Jones’ office received the report and stated that it would review the findings. Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a nonbinding legal opinion questioning whether the laws cited by the audit applied to constitutional officers like the governor. The lectern’s purchase coincided with Sanders’ efforts to limit the public’s access to records about her administration, including travel and security records. The audit was initiated after the purchase was uncovered by a lawyer and blogger known for his open records requests.
Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions to the audit’s findings, with some calling for more accountability from the governor’s office while others downplayed the significance of the violations. Democratic House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough emphasized the need for accountability, while Republican Senate President Bart Hester defended the governor’s office and criticized the application of purchasing and property laws to constitutional officers. The intense scrutiny on this issue has highlighted the Division of Legislative Audit, which conducts numerous audits of state and local government each year.
The audit is the first of two requested by lawmakers, with the second audit focusing on travel and security records that Sanders retroactively shielded from public release. The audit has rekindled discussions about transparency and accountability within the governor’s office and has raised questions about compliance with state laws and regulations. The outcome of this audit could have implications for future investigations into government spending and record-keeping practices in Arkansas.
