Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Blue Hog Report blogger and attorney Matt Campbell said he filed a lawsuit in Pulaski County Court late Tuesday (Oct. 24) against Gov. Sarah Sanders for her office’s denial of a request for documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The lawsuit, which Campbell said was filed late Tuesday afternoon but has not been processed by the court, claims the governor is in violation of the FOIA for not providing information requested. Sanders’ legal counsel, Cortney Kennedy, told Campbell the documents he was seeking are covered under the governor’s working papers exemption.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Campbell requested electronic copies by email of emails to or from First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, a copy of his Outlook calendar, and “bills of lading and other documents” that show the shipping or delivery of a $19,000 lectern ordered from Beckett Events.

Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

Panel OKs audit of Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase, some FOIA-exempt records

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas lawmakers approved a request Thursday and Friday for a nonpartisan investigation into Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern, as well as expenditures by the governor’s office that were recently made private by a new law.

State Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, asked the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee last month to authorize a probe of the lectern purchase by the Arkansas Legislative Audit, an independent body with the authority to investigate spending by any state or local government entity.

Hickey narrowed his second request after members of the Joint Auditing Executive Committee said Thursday that it was too broad. He’d initially asked the Auditing Committee to look into “all matters… made confidential” by Act 7 of 2023, which shields from the public all records and communications concerning the planning or provision of security services to the governor and other state elected officials, as far back as June 1, 2022.

Panel OKs audit of Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase, some FOIA-exempt records

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, asks the Legislative Joint Auditing Executive Committee on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 to approve his request for an audit into Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern and the retroactive shielding of certain government expenses from public access. The committee approved both requests.

'#Podiumgate/#Lecterngate' explained

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Questions are swarming Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders after her office allegedly purchased an expensive lectern. But, Sanders insists the controversy has been blown out of proportion.

"This was paid for by private funds," she told Little Rock news station THV 11. "People want to manufacture a controversy where there isn't one. This was something that was paid for by private funds."

But to say, as the governor does, that her office didn't buy the lectern with state dollars, isn't entirely true.

'#Podiumgate/#Lecterngate' explained

Karen E. Segrave/Arkansas Advocate

The lectern Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders used during her inauguration looks similar to the one she showed the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.