Lt. Gov. Darr fined $11,000 for ethics violations

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Darr will have to pay $11,000 in 30 days as part of a settlement offered with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, documents obtained Monday by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette show.

In a letter dated Dec. 19 to Darr, the commission said it had sufficient evidence to rule that Darr violated 11 state ethics laws and offered him a settlement of an $11,000 fine — $1,000 per violation — as well as a public letter of reprimand. In a two-page signed letter on Monday, Darr accepted the terms of the settlement.

Liberal blogger and attorney Matt Campbell had filed a complaint against Darr citing improper spending of more than $44,000 in campaign and taxpayer dollars, among other violations. Darr, who had also filed a complaint against himself, claimed he merely "wrongly disclosed" his use of those funds and did not intentionally take more money than was owed to him, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has reported.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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