Senate sanctions two of its members

On Thursday, the Senate voted to accept charges and sanctions against two Republican members.

In June, Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. (R-Texarkana), the Senate President Pro Tempore, filed ethics charges against Senator Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale) and Senator Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock), alleging that Senator Johnson had falsified a mileage and per diem form on behalf of Senator Clark, at Senator Clark’s request.

Both Senator Clark and Senator M. Johnson admitted to the charges.

After a series of presentations from Senator Hickey, Senator Clark, and Senator M. Johnson throughout June and early July, the Senate Ethics Committee voted to accept the charges and recommend the following sanctions for both Senator Clark and Senator M. Johnson:

• the loss of all chair and vice-chair positions for the duration of the 93rd General Assembly

• the loss of all mileage and per diem for the duration of the 93rd General Assembly

• the inability to ever again be considered for appointment to Boys State, Girls State, or the Senate Ethics Committee

During Thursday’s Senate business meeting, Senator Kim Hammer (R-Benton), chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, presented the committee’s cases against both members. During discussion, both Senator Clark and Senator M. Johnson spoke in support of the recommended sanctions against them.

Following the presentations and discussion, the Senate voted to accept the charges and sanctions.