A recent audit in Arkansas has raised concerns about the purchase of a $19,000 lectern by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s office, potentially violating state laws, according to a report released on Monday. However, the state attorney general, Tim Griffin, asserted that state purchasing laws do not apply to the governor or other executive branch officials, potentially rendering the findings moot.
The purchase of the lectern garnered significant scrutiny, even from members of Governor Sanders’s own party. Nevertheless, Governor Sanders appeared to dismiss the criticisms, posting a video montage on social media that seemingly mocked the controversy surrounding the lectern purchase.
The audit was initiated by state lawmakers following revelations that the governor’s office had purchased the lectern and an accompanying traveling case using a state-issued credit card. The payment of $19,029.25 was made to Beckett Events L.L.C., an event management company with ties to Governor Sanders.
The Republican Party of Arkansas eventually reimbursed the state for the lectern, issuing a check dated September 14, three months after the initial purchase. This reimbursement occurred shortly after a public records request by Matthew Campbell, a lawyer and blogger, who had sought information regarding the purchase.
Further controversy arose when an anonymous whistleblower alleged that Governor Sanders’s office had improperly altered and withheld public records related to the lectern spending. State Senator Jimmy Hickey Jr., a Republican, subsequently requested the audit in response to the questions and criticism surrounding the purchase.
The audit report revealed that Governor Sanders and the vendors involved did not respond to questions during the investigation. It also highlighted discrepancies in the procurement process, including a lack of competitive quotes and alterations to public records indicating reimbursement requests.
Auditors discovered that while the governor’s staff had been informed of cheaper podium options, they ultimately opted for a custom-designed lectern at a higher cost. The report questioned the necessity of the custom podium and whether it aligned with budgetary guidelines approved by the General Assembly’s budget committee.
Despite these findings, a spokeswoman for Governor Sanders reiterated that the office had followed the law and emphasized that the state was fully reimbursed with private funds, thereby incurring no cost to taxpayers.
Attorney General Griffin’s recent opinion, prompted by a request from Governor Sanders, clarified that Arkansas laws governing accounting and budgetary procedures apply exclusively to state agencies, not constitutional offices like the governor’s.
The outcome of the audit and subsequent legal opinions has sparked debate over the accountability of executive branch officials and the interpretation of state purchasing laws. While the controversy surrounding the lectern purchase may have subsided for now, it has shed light on the complexities of government procurement processes and raised questions about transparency and oversight.
