Sarah Huckabee Sanders rose to national prominence in part during her time at the lectern as White House press secretary, but the purchase of a $19,000 lectern for the Arkansas governor is undergoing scrutiny and prompting claims that records about it have been altered.

A legislative panel next week will take up a lawmaker’s request for an audit to review the purchase of the lectern, which was bought in June for $19,029.25 with a state credit card. The Arkansas Republican Party reimbursed the state last month for the wood-paneled and blue lectern, which the state received in August.

“From my experience, where we’re at with this particular thing is we need to allow legislative audit go in,” Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who requested the audit, said. “Everyone knows them, they do their work, they’re very thorough and then they produce a detailed report that comes to the Legislature through an open committee.”

  • IHeartBadCode@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Man they got fucking robbed. Amazon has it for only $944 The Amazon review though…

    If you are concerned about wasteful spending I highly recommend going with this price from Amazon

    EDIT: Yes, I’m pretty sure they paid $1,000 for it and then reported $19,000 pocketing the difference. As someone who has lived their whole life in Tennessee (and has worked for a period of time in State Government), that’s Southern politics 101. Days where they aren’t fleecing the taxpayer are few and far between here in the Southeastern US.

    • Rentlar@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Brent ☆☆☆☆☆

      Perfect at home in Arkansas or with my friends in Paris

      Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023

      Don’t let your husband or state know that this thing is under $1,000 because it could go for $19,000-$20,000 EASILY! It’s the perfect accessory for “governing”, photoshopping, and fraud. Me and the gal pals really enjoyed this from afar while we were in Paris, France. 10/10

    • kmartburrito@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The fact that this is on Amazon for under a grand is hilarious. These people are absolute morons. I hope they get nailed and the truth comes out.

      • Delusional@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yeah straight up corruption, lying and stealing. And will she ever be punished for her blatant abuse of power? Nope. Obviously this should ban her from ever being anywhere near public office but that won’t ever happen and they’ll continue to do it until there are consequences. I feel like I repeat that a lot nowadays but people get away with too much ridiculous shit these days and are never punished for it. George Santos anybody? How the fuck is he still in office? We need some fucking standards otherwise the country will continue to go to shit.

    • Peaty@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      They didn’t pocket the difference. Gov Sanders used state money to go on vacation and this is the cover.

      • Stabbitha@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That’s what “pocketing the difference” is. She took the state money she said was used for the lectern and used it for personal purposes.

        • Peaty@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          She went on the trip first and then bought the lectern when people started asking questions. Pocketing the difference doesn’t apply because the theft happened first.

          • enki@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            You’re being very pedantic about something very unimportant. Sometimes it’s best to just let it go.

            • Peaty@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              If it is unimportant why are you replying? I disagree that it is unimportant because the crime is different than what was explained by that comment.

            • Peaty@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              Im not saying a crime never happened. Im saying the crime preceded the purchase so they aren’t pocketing the difference. The expense is being justified by the purchase to cover for the crime

    • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      lol, yhgtbsm. Unbelievable.

      A ~$900 lectern for $19k. Fraud in broad daylight. I can’t call it “skimming off the top” because it’s so upside down.