LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been making a series of announcements recently, including targeting Chinese-owned farmland and banning gender-neutral terms from state documents. These announcements have been well-received by her Republican base.
Sanders, the former White House press secretary, has also been fielding questions at the state Capitol. However, there is one issue that continues to plague her: the whereabouts of a $19,000 lectern that was purchased for her office. The purchase has led to an audit and allegations of illegal alterations to public records.
Despite dismissing the controversy as “manufactured” and criticizing the media for focusing on it, Sanders has contributed to the ongoing interest in the purchase by not providing basic information about it.
Where is the lectern now? Who authorized the alteration of the invoice? And why isn’t she using it for her announcements?
When asked about the lectern at a recent news conference, Sanders deflected the question, saying she wanted the focus to be on her administration’s actions.
An audit into the lectern purchase is currently underway, and the Republican Party of Arkansas has reimbursed the state for the expense. However, the optics of an expensive lectern for a governor who preaches fiscal responsibility are difficult to overlook.
The lectern’s purchase has attracted attention from national media outlets and late-night TV hosts, and could potentially damage Sanders’ reputation as a next-generation Republican leader.
While Sanders has expressed her desire to move on from the issue, her refusal to answer basic questions has kept the story alive.
The controversy surrounding the lectern is symbolic of a larger issue of public accountability, and critics argue that it contradicts Sanders’ calls for transparency and fiscal responsibility. The questions surrounding the purchase also extend to the decision to buy it from a company run by a political consultant and lobbyist.
State Democrats have capitalized on the issue, highlighting their own frugal purchase of a lectern from state surplus.
The purchase has also raised concerns about how public records were handled, with allegations of interference and attempts to withhold information. A lawsuit has been filed seeking additional records and challenging the exemption of certain emails from public release.
Despite attempts to change the subject, including new announcements and support from an outside group, the lectern issue continues to linger. While some lawmakers dismiss the audit as unnecessary, others believe there may be more to the story.
