Legislators scrutinize $19K lectern purchase by Gov. Sanders' office following audit report

In legislative audit meeting on Tuesday, legislators had a chance to ask Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' office regarding the purchase of a lectern and other items following an audit report that revealed areas of "potential noncompliance" when it comes to Arkansas law.
www.thv11.com/article/news/po...

[@markbrockman9859]

Face it Arkansas, she used taxpayer money to finance a party for herself and her girlfriends in Paris.

[@boringstuff1542]

Arkansas doesn't care. It's Arkansas.

[@teresaboone893]

​@@boringstuff1542 you're wrong some of us do care. We don't like criminal rethuglicons.

[@michaelmartin5632]

And not Paris, Texas, either. They went to Paris, France, where people eat snails. 😅

[@bobbakian7369]

​@@michaelmartin5632 she eats everything

[@floridaredneck]

She wouldn't be able to double and triple down if she admitted that to her state, even though it's clear. Who needs a hearing for a regular frigging podium? Obviously, there is something completely wrong when you have to take something this far. Remember, there is no, "I made a mistake", no "I'm sorry" and no, "You're right", and no, "I did it and I resign", with this former republican party. I'd like to say most of the party isn't like this, but then they aren't doing anything to hold themselves accountable.

[@DG-wu7ke]

In simple words - the governor got caught cooking the books to pay for a lavish vacation for the governor and her two friends.

[@peterharris38]

Yep 😢

[@user-xb3lk1zv8o]

Anyone want to ask the obvious question of who buys a podium from a company that doesn't sell podiums and happens to be a personal friend? Way to sweep corruption under the rug. Sad

[@JohnDoe-cw4lf]

Especially after HANGING OUT IN FRANCE with said friend . . .

[@kickazz999]

Smacks of corruption Typical tRumpster

[@barbaraannstinson-rutland5295]

Let that purchaser have a D in front of their name, they would already be either in JAIL or out of Office by now. She have been lying about one thing or another since she was Speaking up for Trump

[@ritalong2827]

😅d😊😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 😅😅😊😊😊 to😅😊😊😊😅😊😅😊😊😅😊😅😊 to😊 try try try

[@josepherhardt164]

At 3x to 4x the price of the most expensive lectern out there? (Podium = where you stand, lectern = what you stand behind.)

[@sharonjones5136]

Lock her up. Vote BLUE

[@hereitis.2587]

Amen! Hallelujah! Drain the swamp! She told us all about it! Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. Get working on the chain gang, Gov!

[@DrSammyMunchkin]

Simple.

[@altrevino3135]

It’s Arkansas…

[@CoastalBachelor2009]

And to watch them try and justify it by terminology is the governor’s office this or is it considered that? Come on she had an out-of-state friend make money off of it. It’s blatant corrupt, and you would think she knows that because of all of the corruption that she was personally witnessing, she would knowthat even without someone trying to figure out what they had for dinner. She should know that she’s gonna be scrutinized because of the absolute lack of honor and Ethics she displayed.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

When you fear integrity and accountability, you are NOT the good guys!

[@user-ym8nn2nb7b]

Huckathief

[@jeffreyd7796]

Sarah needs to be held accountable. Please people of Arkansas vote her out.

[@Lancelot_Jago]

And send her to prison.

[@Michael-ig8ne]

They’ll never do it becuz REPUBLICANS ARE HONEST!

[@edb294]

@@Michael-ig8nemore so then Democrats who have never told the truth in their entire lives.

[@jdantigua1999]

....the solution is simple; Please encourage your neighbors, family and friends to register and legally vote democratic. VOTE DEMOCRATIC in local, school board, city, judgeships, county, state Governor, Legislature, State Supreme Court and Federal ELECTIONS. DEMS are not perfect. However, not the Smoke that the party of tRump (POT), MAGA Republicans are giving our citizenry. Vote for President Joseph Biden.

[@edb294]

@@jdantigua1999 like democrats are honest people wake the F up.

[@tomlewelling4088]

What a bunch of BS. Another crooked politician. Welcome to the club.

[@bigbandguru]

Republicans

[@gusdagoosesmom4902]

As if the voters didn't know who they were voting for!!!!!

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

More proof of why George Santos is STILL the perfect poster-child for today's Republican party

[@floridaredneck]

Oh, let's be fair now. Santos was just blatant about it; he isn't the only one. Wait till Gaetz's underage mess really comes out. He'll wish abortion was legal then I bet! Give Bobert's Beetlejuice boob and balls debacle some credit too!

[@ryanreedgibson]

Lol, yep! And they'll accuse everyone of doing what they get caught doing.

[@lynnegackstetter2779]

Sarah has been trained by her father on how to be corrupt. Santos was simply a pathetic liar. Sarah is just plain corrupt. The extra money from the taxpayers was to pay for Sarah and those 2 gal's to go to Paris.

[@tl1447]

Katie Noam is giving him a run for his money though

[@dallasstang2818]

Not exactly. 99.99% of republicans aren’t gay. Other than that, true.

[@victorguzman8546]

See here we go. The Republicans are sticking up for her when they know she did wrong.

[@kimbella1452]

Well the same way they are still hung up on Trump! 91 indictments 😮

[@josepherhardt164]

"I am SHOCKED! SHOCKED I am! Well, not THAT shocked."

[@tomservo5007]

the same group helped pass a law to HIDE travel expenses

[@imatter4619]

The conservative party. A 19k lecturn then soon later a vacation with the same person who sold it. Captain obvious

[@Ryan-Fkrepublicnz]

Nothing conservative about them. They are fully radicalized

[@JAZZYM201]

So if a bank robber returns the money he avoid being prosecuted for his crimes? That is the argument from the Governor’s side.

[@josepherhardt164]

In California, that would be "compounding a felony." Or used to be, at least.

[@havefaith4358]

Uh...............yeah. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hollykainz]

And she didn't return the money. She's despicable!

[@michaelpatterson-jm8nq]

When people are willing to lie to our faces under oath

[@timfahey7127]

I heard about this like a year and a half ago....glad to see the traction it has finally taken. Miss Huckabee should be ashamed of herself....along with her equally vile friends.

[@watchinit6063]

timfahey , Come in now. She's a self-professed Christian. As such, she would never scam her state's constituents, right? Or would she? 🤔

[@gregkump3639]

Repugnants have no shame when they are criming!😎😂🤣

[@Kcm836]

Along with the people that voted for her.

[@josepherhardt164]

Alas, grifters have no shame and cannot feel it.

[@CSmith-oz4wp]

This latest round of these grifting elitist that have taken control of some of the local and state elected positions are now showing their true colors. They want control, they want to grift and they don’t have the intelligence to pull it off. So we end up with corrupt politicians like Huckabee. She thought she was above the rules and laws and is shown by having her co- conspiracy actors that passes laws to protect this corrupt governor.

[@4YOUBYANGELICA]

Way to handle the tax dollars of hard working Arkansa voters, $19,000 for a podium :O The average income of Arkansas constituents is $32,000. Gov Huckabee does not care about the needs of the people of Arkansas. Wow.

[@vincefreese3379]

The people of AR don't care about the people of AR as they vote against their own interest in every election.

[@user-so1xx9qk8f]

Vote her ass out.

[@gregkump3639]

You seem shocked!😎😂

[@4YOUBYANGELICA]

@@gregkump3639 I know, I know, it is a fault of mine thinking this is unusual.

[@user-ub2zr9ln8g]

And her take on free school lunches for kids No way she said If they get food stamps Then they don’t need free school meals. She is vile Vote her out

[@doughughes5732]

Lock her up. They are all crooks.

[@RA-II]

Impeach Huckabee Sanders

[@manarcabrera2528]

Vote her out.

[@josepherhardt164]

Arkansan at the polls: "Which lever do ah pull?" Poll worker: "Don't matter. Both are marked 'R.'"

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

Vote her out and lock her up.

[@Go-Dawgs]

Oh Nobody Responded?? Well Go Ahead and File Charges of Fraud. Make Them Lawyer Up & Give Depositions. Maybe these Lying Republicans Will tell the truth, but Doubtful.

[@richardbryanesq]

Most frustrating about that is the gov’s rep refused to give even the mildest rebuke of that conduct.

[@tl1447]

and supena her BFF's company that sold that lecturn

[@NZKiwiRic]

Why look? This is run by the same party? They will say a purchase 😂 of a 19k podium is fine... they will say that modifying an invoice after the fact is fine... buying it from a non-podium company is fine... getting a public podium purchase REPAID by a non-government person who is friendly to the governor is... fine... save the money and just accept the corruption you voted in...

[@DOUG5695]

And keep FOIA IN THE DARK ON THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ACTIVITY. Try to suspend all FOIA activity in Arkansas by legislative action.

[@shanejohns7901]

It's always okay....if you're a Republican. Rules are only for the Democrats.

[@gusdagoosesmom4902]

Right?! as if they didn't know who they were voting for!!!!

[@JohnDoe-cw4lf]

One word . . . ; BUSTED !!! 😑😑😑😑

[@theroofguy625]

another honest "Christian". I wouldn't trust any of them with a puppy!

[@SN-zb7ew]

He thinks having an audit is a waste of our money… But paying more than $19,000 for a stupid podium is not wasting money…

[@joannnelson9847]

Put her in jail!!!!!

[@user-ul9vn6hn2g]

She either learned her ETHICs from her DAddy or Donald Trump. I would be embarrassed by the Governor of my State if they did something so brazen as this.

[@gusdagoosesmom4902]

And she has done worse since!

[@hollykainz]

Or her brothers.

[@daleford62]

Huckabee should resign.

[@palace927]

It has been referred to the 6th Judicial District prosecuting attorney for possible criminal charges.

[@Ryan-Fkrepublicnz]

Federal charges for corruption. Remove the entire governor's office and the corrupt attorney general

[@michaelpatterson-jm8nq]

Word for word lies from governors staff,

[@damncows]

What a convoluted load of hooey. Dancing around in their masterbatory propaganda. They stole 20 grand from the state for trips and parties, then called it a podium . PERIOD

[@janetgilmore8006]

Let's talk about corruption , we all know that nothing is going to happen to these people , they will continue to do whatever they can get away with which is stealing from the taxpayers..?

[@hereitis.2587]

It’s good to be white! And to live on the biggest hill with the most money! Don’t forget she’s got a daddy that speaks for her and parts seas so little dumpling can have a sweet life without struggles. Easy money with a trustfund baby! Silver spoons do end up in prison. She can have her turn too.

[@nancywhitaker5096]

Vote them out of office. problem solved. As they say. If a company ran a background check on these people, they would not get hired at Walmart or anywhere else for that matter.

[@Endoscopic911]

They'll keep committing crimes & then they'll say leave it to the voter's to decide. We did decide when we elected YOU to hold them accountable!

[@havefaith4358]

I HOPE, you're wrong. Gosh darn it!

[@leathervogel5242]

After listening to all 2 1/2 hours of this committees, commentary and questioning what I take away is a bunch of legislators tiptoeing around, scared to talk about the honest truth with hard questions and using technicalities to keep their governor from having to be held accountable. It reaches the highest levels of the AG offices and sending these peons to come down and live for the governor… It’s all very sickening when it’s so simple to tell the truth. All I can tell you is, I hope the feds take over and press charges!!!

[@RipliWitani]

If they hold her accountable, then they will be held accountable. Only the FBI or IRS will do something about this

[@hereitis.2587]

Whatever it takes get to the bottom of the crime. Accountability for all.

[@floridaredneck]

They'll just call it a witch hunt, like they say about every illegal thing they do. In a press conference, Sanders says, "I'm going to move on to real issues we need to address", meaning, "I'm a liar who stole your money, so can be move on to lesser of evils I'm doing"?

[@hammerborg5663]

The company in question does NOT make a podium costing more than 7000 $us, and they should have a record from the 'sale' also.

[@johnnyruvs]

They keep saying "potentially violated" or "potential non-compliance." Which is it? You have rules. Those rules were not followed.

[@davidwilliams1086]

Not which but who makes the determination of there being questions.

[@hereitis.2587]

But, but, but she will cry! Poor baby!

[@phillipgoodyear4196]

Let’s hear the lies.

[@leathervogel5242]

Here’s the deal Arkansas… I just listened to the 2 1/2 hour audit hearing in front of the legislature. The bottom line is the attorney general is a maga right wing, who is supporting the governor and had his cronies show up with the audit department to present the facts in a strictly detailed analytical format without pointing fingers. the legislators were tiptoeing around with their questions, unable to ask hard questions Telling everyone that the governors been doing a great job for the state of Arkansas and I can tell you right now this thing is being whitewashed and they will take no further action against the governor. This whole incident has been a complete embarrassment to the state of Arkansas and all they wanna do is put it to bed and make it go away… The only chance we have for justice is for the feds to investigate… But they have to pick and choose, and they may not want to waste Their resources on the incident. Governor Huckabee is a corrupt lying cheating stealing politician who used state funds to pay her girlfriend she had to trip to Paris with.

[@RipliWitani]

FBI is ran by Biden. Might not be a bad idea to call them

[@truthhurtswilky7785]

All crooks stick together.

[@cindybeattie-rich3728]

You are spot on! That is exactly what happened. Do they think we’re dumb and can’t see what happened? Total fraud!!

[@CreekInTheOzarks]

Excellent comment! The Texas state government did pretty much the same thing for Ken Paxton recently. Theft of taxpayer's money is transparent and excused today. There is no way to stop this when the churches have control over the population.

[@dalejohnson537]

Wondering where are you Mr Merrick Garland we the people would suggest YOU DO YOUR JOB !!!

[@briankeyes268]

Impeachment would be justified.

[@shanejohns7901]

Sarah probably wonders why Daddy's trick didn't work when she tried using it.

[@Oakleyracer]

I’m making a citizens arrest, she used some of my tax dollars without my permission. That’s stealing, she’s a thief. Throw her in jail for being stupid.

[@mnblkjh6757]

Crooked Governor & GOP

[@altrevino3135]

Arkansas, holding their grifting Governor accountable? … I won’t hold my breath. Again, Arkansas…

[@kathleenweidmann3100]

#MeidasTouch

[@donniebooth8478]

Lock her up lock her up with DJ Trump they would make a great couple

[@gilbryans]

She should have never been able to purchase the Podium with a P-Card. Raising the P-Card limit from $5000 to $25000 should have never been allowed!

[@suttonmatthew]

If the podium is for general use of the Republican Party of Arkansas, why was it custom made? If it belongs to the RPA, why is it in her office, and the travel case at the RPA? Why didn’t the RPA purchase the podium directly without using public funds?

[@user-pu8uh4mw8z]

Over $19k for a fucking podium????!!??....Christ, all you do is stick your hands on it and put papers on it..?....

[@tham5142]

She wants us to believe it was for the podium. Its gonna come out she went to France and reimbursed her friend by saying she bought the podium!

[@josepherhardt164]

Take the top off and it can double as a d*ldo.

[@bobbakian7369]

It's come out that a lot of the cost was for beefing up the structural integrity

[@Melrose51653]

But it's the Millennium Falcon of lecterns !!l Better than the one at The White House

[@user-pu8uh4mw8z]

@@Melrose51653 😂😂

[@mgreg8134]

You get what you vote for.

[@nancyames5437]

I have NEVER seen such tap dancing around wrong doing. Republican corruption at its finest! Absolutely despicable!!!! She went to Paris and partied with her friends.

[@bryanfish4495]

She has more than enough of her own money to take a trip with her friends but wanted to stick taxpayers with her bill. Stupidly sloppy in trying to cover it up.

[@pattishome6285]

2500.00 for consultation fee???😂😂😂

[@grannylpz]

🧐😱

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

And to ship the podium case separately doesn't make sense either. Shipping the podium INSIDE the case at the same time, would save on shipping costs AND protect the podium from damage. I'm not from Arkansas, so maybe they do things backwards there.

[@klee88029]

​@@oldschoolfunkster1 I believe that they do👍

[@vjcodec]

Yeah a weekend consult in Paris.

[@vjcodec]

@@oldschoolfunkster1NEW A REAL FALCON LOOKING CUSTOM LECTURE PODIUM. WOOOOW! COMES WITH A CUSTOM STANDARD HIGHT AND NO I REPEAT NO ELECTRONICS. case and batteries sold separately. Flight tickets not included.

[@bobyoung1698]

Although this may not seem to be a big deal, the investigation may uncover other abuses of state policies. The fact the governor refuses to talk about it only makes it more intriguing.

[@holyspirit606]

Huckabee staff.. Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar.

[@havefaith4358]

Pants on fire!

[@holyspirit606]

@@havefaith4358 . Remind people, Our Faith is bigger than our fear! Amen and amen. ✌️💙😇🙏

[@kathleenweidmann3100]

Holding your feet to the fire #GovHuckabee.😉

[@Wordavee1]

$10,000 - $15,000 for something to stand behind, rest papers on, with maybe a sound system?? That is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money!!

[@karencamburn6773]

She is so corrupt ,get rid of her !!!

[@jeffreyd7796]

The fix is in. Red state politics.

[@enricomercado4671]

I can just imagine Sarah Hucksterbee watching this audit with that usual awful scowl she has on her face!

[@havefaith4358]

She's sitting at her daddy's knee, biting her nails.

[@EveryCitizen-so2ct]

So tired of lies and insanity Vote blue get everyone you can to vote

[@nancy9891]

Recommendations are all they have to do! Where is the Attorney General! Legal counsel for the Governor? They just lie for Huckabee

[@victorguzman8546]

Order order her to bring it to the committee let the committee see it personally I’ll bet you she won’t bring it

[@ChristopherChristophercIverson]

Taxpayers money was not used. Except to purchase the Lectern while waiting to be paid back based off a handwritten note. placed on the invoice after the FOIA request came in. Oh and we didn't learn anything since there have been so many including the AG who have protected us so much that members had to mention I several times in this meeting and what are we going to do differently, nothing because nothing was done wrong based off our corrupt friends who protected us as we ripped off the taxpayer. That lady lawyer trying to school that Giv body Lawyer who has been in Govt shows the audacity and balls on these people while ripping off taxpayer.

[@jeffbrammer1082]

Spot the Republican. So taxpayer money wasn't used? Where did the money come from government (taxpayer), federal funds (taxpayer) or state funds (taxpayer). You carry on excusing this clear case of fraud. Money was only returned when public became aware. Well done investigating journalists. You carry on apologising for her.

[@LauraPruneda-ju8qo]

She got caught and they are trying to cover up for her.

[@abrahamtrejo5184]

Sounds familiar delay deny and deflect.... Alternative facts...

[@GoVoteDemocracy]

Yes, she learned it well at the Trump White House.

[@breathislife384]

she's a #trumplican

[@patricknoonan3754]

This show you how bad her judgement is this is sad Arkansas is poor enough

[@JohnJones-kc6fd]

It's custom built, but it doesn't even have a microphone, and it costs 19000+ dollars !!!!!.

[@artclass7449]

Of course she wasted the taxpayers money. The hucks are CROOKS. I’m shocked that she is even being investigated. She’ll fire them.

[@rosegeaber7533]

And a road case?! Where were they going to take that friggin podium?!

[@michaelpatterson-jm8nq]

For any honest person in this meeting watching whats occuring, you know have become part of the problem itself

[@user-dg9qh5eg2i]

2:35:51 Finally we know who LH is, but I strongly suggest they follow the scent left on the trail. Somebody is definitely lying about the intent of that alteration of said public record.

[@Go-Dawgs]

They're All Lying on the Scant Paper trail. Nobody Answered Certified Mail? Just Indict Them All including Sarah. Or get her "Friends" to tell the truth Against Her! They're All in Trouble and They Know It!

[@williamhyde2310]

The only way she'll be held accountable is if the Feds get involved

[@michaelwilson8856]

Did Ms. Beckett pay for the trip to France for all the ladies and then she was paid back with an inflated podium purchase by the governor?

[@klee88029]

Exactly. You just won the Final prize in the game category of Arkansas jeopardy. Congratulations 👍

[@colinmccann7123]

That's a rip-off for what they paid

[@sandrapospyhala277]

Nothing like a cover up.

[@OzzieBenzC300]

Hope she gets indicted!

[@tl1447]

"well, there's holes where you could send electronics through" MY GOD the mental gymnastics to defend this vile human

[@lynnegackstetter2779]

Just accept that all this money was spent on the vacation of three gals including the governor to Paris.

[@Bob-sd8ns]

She’s corrupt AF

[@VooDoo31818]

My opinion it was really expensive they could have bought a car. The amount is crazy it shouldn't have been that high.

[@cap1206]

Shameful behavior and backing up of easy to see misuse of resources. What lengths they go to justifying terrible behavior.

[@teri2941]

This is an indication that the citizens and press need to continue to scrutinize their government in the future. Once it is uncovered and swept under the rug the crooks have free reign to continue and need the pressure from outside to bring light to these actions.

[@greatlambrini8722]

What’s to scrutinize? It’s pretty clear isn’t it? Even if her intentions were good (which they were not), then this wilful misuse of public funds is at very least a sackable offence. Why should things take so long? I’m sick of it. If this were you or I, you would be sacked on the spot. Elected officials even should be removed from office.

[@victorguzman8546]

Come on people I can see there’s something wrong and I’m a Republican that a Republican come that bad but now we still need money to take trips come out Republicans. We need to get our head out of our a📪📪

[@gailsimmons5270]

With a panel that does not look like a diverse group of people how bias can they be? Huckabee should be told to step down.

[@1topbaron559]

The office identified that they needed the podium, we just haven't used it since. I think that guy needs to identify the "need".

[@simonfea2]

Embezzlement. Its called embezzlement.

[@julifinkbiner67]

But did they find an actual lecturn they could see and touch

[@georgemorrisey7146]

Allegedly it lives at the Republican Party HQin little rock

[@josepherhardt164]

@@georgemorrisey7146 Along with Bigfoot and D. B. Cooper.

[@garrystokes1432]

I am a carpenter.I would gladly build for any government office,A podium for 1500 dolars.Of simular or greater value than the one this crook bought.

[@maryjackson1194]

Senators Chesterfield and Payton are amazing! Cut through the fluff and get to the point. The guy from the AG's office who refused to answer Senator Chesterfield's question reminded me of Trump's attorney not wanting to answer questions from the appeals court and SCOTUS.

[@maryjackson1194]

So...at the time budgets are appropriated, the Office of the Governor is an agency, but when they spend the funds, they can escape the controls on how appropriated funds are spent?

[@Endoscopic911]

Explain the $2500 consulting fee for the ugliest most expensive lectern in existence. It looks like a child designed it.

[@littlelady.7vidhyavishal376]

This is clear cut scandal. Who buy a podum for 19k what is it made of gold???

[@maryjackson1194]

That remark about this being partisan: Senator Payton and Rep Dalby are both Republicans. They were quite sharply critical. And to the guy who said "altering is not tampering," and statements about normal accounting matters: when you annotate a dated document, you put a date on the annotation; by not adding a date for the annotation, she suggested that was true as of the document date. The explanation that the note "to be reimbursed" was written by a person who had a check in hand when she wrote it sounds dishonest. Why didn't she write "has been reimbursed"?

[@benzminibusdoc]

975 $ for shipping of a road case? Give me a break

[@Adventures247]

And separate from the lecturen 😅

[@benzminibusdoc]

@@Adventures247 yes, in total that is 2200$for shipping, that is about what I paid to ship my minibus from Hamburg to Chennai in an extended height 40ft container

[@kayja2949]

Sarah is emulating her mentor's path. It's perplexing why those with substantial wealth are often perceived as the first to deceive the government. Where could Sarah be? Charging $21,000 for a podium is an amount greater than what some families earn in a year. From the outset, the purchase of this podium was an unwise investment.

[@Hal_T]

I love how they're spending so much time talking about a thing and a process that never actually existed until after the money was spent. This was an exercise in "let's pretend" to protect the governor.

[@AU79cm-3]

I don't want to hear the details of this fraud, the only thing I want to hear is the judge's statement when he/she says guilty and the years in prison.

[@mifatscratcher4495]

she still has to deal with the Feds

[@slimfaddy4605]

The Republican way!

[@ricdale7813]

10-15k for a podium. I'm in the wrong business. Holy smokes that is insanely costly.

[@ewautrey]

Lies can be measured by their length. This is some amateurish sewn together pile of Pooh. To complicated to be true.

[@4YOUBYANGELICA]

Lies have no end dear one. "Oh what a tangled web is weaved when first you begin to deceive." One has to be followed up by another and so on.

[@TaxTheChurches.]

Like father like daughter. Griftin' the night away.