LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Former Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge paid her staff well above the amounts that had been appropriated by lawmakers, a legislative audit has found.
According to the audit, 26 employees in Rutledge’s office last year were paid more than the designated salary for their positions, with an excess amount of $69,055.
Twenty-nine workers exceeded their line item salaries at a cost of more than $65,000, the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee reported.
Rutledge, who was elected as the state’s first female lieutenant governor in November, told auditors she believed her office was exempt from the salary requirements set by the state.
Tim Griffin, who succeeded Rutledge as attorney general, said he believes Rutledge violated the Arkansas Constitution.
