Arkansas governor asks for lieutenant governor's resignation
Washington (CNN) – Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, has asked Republican Lieutenant Gov. Mark Darr, the state's second in command, to resign over campaign finance impropriety.
Beebe called Darr on Tuesday to ask for his resignation, according to a spokesman for Beebe, after an Arkansas ethics commission ruled that Darr had broken 11 campaign finance laws since 2010.
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After the call, though, Amber Pool, a spokeswoman for Darr, said the lieutenant governor had no intention of stepping down.
In the wake of the ethics ruling, Darr admitted he erred on campaign finance filings, signed a letter from the ethics commission that admitted guilt, and agreed to pay $11,000 in fines.
Beebe's resignation call only holds symbolic weight. The popular governor has no authority to force Darr out because both are independent constitutional officers for the state of Arkansas. According to the governor’s spokesman, Matt DeCample, only the state legislature can force Darr to resign.
After the call with Beebe, Darr attempted to move past the call for his resignation in a statement to CNN.
"The mistakes I made have been well documented," he said. "My focus now is on making things right with the people of Arkansas."
Darr was elected lieutenant governor in 2010, defeating Democrat state Senator Shane Broadway.
In August, he declared his intention to run for the open U.S. House seat in Arkansas's 4th Congressional District that's currently held by Republican Rep. Tom Cotton, who's decided to challenge Democrat Mark Pryor for his U.S. Senate seat.
Shortly after his announcement, however, local media began to report improper spending by Darr's 2010 campaign. Because of these questions over campaign finances, Darr called off his congressional campaign less than a month after declaring.
Term-limited, Beebe cannot run for another term in the 2014 gubernatorial race.
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Move his office into the bathroom.
Must be a real pain in the butt being a Demo Governor having a Rebub Lt who's a criminal.
but, he'll sign into law to put a teenager into jail for smoking a joint ...... seems fair!
kevin
Democrats are notorious for throwing mud and hoping something sticks while at the same time defending real corruption like Obama with his Solyndra, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, Obamacare fiasco, NSA spying on Americans, IRS targeting political enemies etc.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Look at that – you managed to name every single so-called "Obama scandal" the rightwing has dreamed up during his tenure! Your mommy must be so proud!
@ Brad Lymburner
...'Lt. Gov. Darr has done more for government transparency than anyone and Arkansas now gets an A grade in that area.
An A grade for campaign finance impropriety and crimininal charges coomng...way to go gop tea potty!!!
Interesting how right-wingers turn any conversation into Obama-bashing. Do your homework, Kevin. NSA spying began under the Bush watch, and he condoned it.
All of America knows Republicans break the laws and cheat. They are rapist, felons that they elect to office
perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black. lol
they took our jobs!
Somebody posted this and it is worth reposting:
How Republican of him. "RANGEL cheated. RANGEL lied. RANGEL got caught. RANGEL told you, 'I'm sorry.' I will not resign. I will not talk about this subject anymore because I've put it behind me, and so should you." Did I miss anything?
How Rangel of him.
@kevin Guvmnt bad, Obama bad, Benghazi biggest scandal since what(Watergate, Iran Contra, WMDs oops I mean MonicaGate) IRS (oops they targeted both Dem and GOP groups, although the targeting of Dem groups was a much bigger yawn). We should just do away all govmint that I don't understand like Commerce Dept, State Dept, NASA, CDC, FDA, OSHA, Justice blah blah blah scrreeeech except for our heroic men and women in this here United States Military...which wouldn't know what or where to fight without NSA types and couldn't sustain itself without the pesky IRS paying it's way. Get a clue.
Geez, Obama broke laws and gave his union buddies a car company and all it cost us was $10.5 BILLION. When will he resign and start serving time?
This would go down way differently in N Korea...
The lieutenant is a Republican, he won't resign. He knows that if you resign you will never be elected, while if you stay in office there's a good chance your career will go on as if nothing happened.
Look at all the Democrats that resigned lately, Weiner, Spitzer, etc. never re-elected
Look at the Republicans that didn't, Gingrich, McCain, Sanford, etc.... all still in office
This guy knows how to keep his career and fool the very gullible Republican electorate......
How Republican of him. "Vitter cheated.Vitter lied. Vitter got caught. Vitter told you, 'I'm sorry.' I will not resign. I will not talk about this subject anymore because I've put it behind me, and so should you." Did I miss anything? Like you re-elected him?
How Vitter of him.
FIFY
IOKIYAR
A Republican abusing campaign finance laws? I'm shocked, SHOCKED! (just watched AMERICAN HUSTLE – you Republicans are so crooked!)(I wish all of you a VERY unhappy New Year, and, in November it will be so){Oh, by the way – HILLARY – 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}
Can't we just ride them out of town on a rail
There is a difference between Pres. Obama's alleged "scandals" and Lt. Gov. Darr found guilty of 11 counts of Campaign Finance Laws. Pres. Obama has not been charged or found guilty of any laws. Not for the lack of trying on Rep. Issa part.
Why don't resign?
Republicans preach self reliance, but they always have their hands in other people's pockets.
Just elect another crooked GOP govenor of another red confederate state. I live in a new blue state Florida where we are going to vote out our crooked GOP govenor Scott and all his teaparty idiot cronies in nov!!!!!
One crook call another a crook, LOL
Rep assa is next to fall, already a total failure and wast of our taxpayers money!!!!
Kevin, all I can think of is, you can fool some of the people all the time, that, would be you. But sad truth is you want others to be as ignorant as you, of all the things to expand on, yikes, get a clue
I believe that the governor should step down for being nothing but an Obama clone.