Cook: Darr Fined $11,000 By Arkansas Ethics Commission

Today, Lt. Governor Mark Darr signed a settlement with the Arkansas Ethics Commission and agreed to pay $11,000 in fines for violating numerous campaign finance laws.

The Ethics Commission found 11 separate instances where Darr violated campaign finance laws and for each count of wrong-doing, Darr agreed to pay $1,000.

In the settlement Darr admits in part to using campaign funds for personal purposes, accepting contributions that exceed the legal amount and to using his state-government credit card for personal purposes. He also admits to various other violations of the law dealing with bookkeeping and filing of reports

You can read the signed settlement letter here. And Darr sent a letter to the Ethics Commission which you can read here.

Earlier this year Senator Paul Bookout was cited by the Ethics Commission for using campaign money for personal purposes and paid a $8,000 fine. Bookout resigned within a fews days after the final ruling by the Commission.

Darr’s transgressions are much worse than Paul Bookout’s. Not only did Darr use campaign money for personal use, but Darr also used taxpayer money for his own personal use. Darr is a currently being investigated by Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley for illegally using government funds.

With this settlement now in place, and Darr admitting to violating numerous laws, the Lt. Governor should resign immediately.