In a letter sent to co-chairs of the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey requested an audit over the purchase of a podium, or what’s also called a lectern, by the governor’s office from Beckett Events LLC.According to records posted online with the state website Transparency.Arkansas.gov, Beckett Events was paid $19,029.25 in 2023.In a statement sent to 40/29 News by Alexa Henning, Director of Communications for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Henning said the Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursed the governor’s office for all costs.Henning said the governor welcomes the audit and encourages legislators to complete it without delay.Sen. Hickey is also requesting an audit of all matters involving the governor’s office that were made confidential due to recent changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information laws that keep private all information regarding the governor’s security details.A letter obtained by 40/29 news that was sent to Hickey by Rogers-based attorney Tom Mars accused Henning and others in the governor’s office of altering non-exempt FOIA documents, withholding other documents and removing portions of emails that were subject to public records requests.The letter states that Mars represents an anonymous witness who has evidence supporting the allegations and that the person would be willing to testify before legislative auditors.Currently, Mars has not issued any statements to 40/29 News about the letter.Members of the Legislative Audit Committee are scheduled to meet Thursday, Oct. 12, in Little Rock to officially hear Hickey’s request. Committee members will vote on whether or not to approve the nonpartisan audit to review the records in question.
In a letter sent to co-chairs of the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey requested an audit over the purchase of a podium, or what’s also called a lectern, by the governor’s office from Beckett Events LLC.
According to records posted online with the state website Transparency.Arkansas.gov, Beckett Events was paid $19,029.25 in 2023.
In a statement sent to 40/29 News by Alexa Henning, Director of Communications for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Henning said the Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursed the governor’s office for all costs.
Henning said the governor welcomes the audit and encourages legislators to complete it without delay.
Sen. Hickey is also requesting an audit of all matters involving the governor’s office that were made confidential due to recent changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information laws that keep private all information regarding the governor’s security details.
A letter obtained by 40/29 news that was sent to Hickey by Rogers-based attorney Tom Mars accused Henning and others in the governor’s office of altering non-exempt FOIA documents, withholding other documents and removing portions of emails that were subject to public records requests.
The letter states that Mars represents an anonymous witness who has evidence supporting the allegations and that the person would be willing to testify before legislative auditors.
Currently, Mars has not issued any statements to 40/29 News about the letter.
Members of the Legislative Audit Committee are scheduled to meet Thursday, Oct. 12, in Little Rock to officially hear Hickey’s request. Committee members will vote on whether or not to approve the nonpartisan audit to review the records in question.
