Arkansas lawmakers grilled Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ staff over the controversial $19,000 purchase of a lectern that has sparked a national uproar. The audit revealed potential violations of state laws on purchasing, property, and government records.
Republican Sen. John Payton criticized the purchase, stating, “I don’t think the lectern’s worth $19,000 or $11,500.” Despite the backlash, Judd Deere, Sanders’ deputy chief of staff, defended the purchase, calling it a legitimate acquisition.
The lectern, purchased in June with a state credit card, included additional costs for a consulting fee, road case, and shipping. The Republican Party of Arkansas later reimbursed the state for the purchase, attributing the use of the state credit card to an accounting error.
Sanders, a former press secretary for President Trump, dismissed the controversy as manufactured and has not used the lectern at public events. However, she plans to start using it now that the audit is completed.
The audit also raised concerns about potential violations of state law in the handling of public records related to the purchase. The governor’s office disputed these findings, arguing that the laws cited do not apply to constitutional officers.
As the controversy continues to unfold, lawmakers are closely monitoring the situation, with a second audit into travel and security records underway. The outcome of these audits could have significant implications for Sanders’ administration.