The Senate today voted to suspend Senator Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale) for the duration of the 93rd General Assembly, to strip him of his seniority, and to recommend to the 94th General Assembly that he be stripped of his seniority for the duration of that biennium.

The Senate Ethics Committee recommended the penalties after several days of deliberation as to how to appropriately punish Senator Clark for filing a frivolous ethics charge against Senator Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff). Senator Clark had already faced penalties earlier this year for asking Senator Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock) to sign an attendance record on Senator Clark’s behalf, giving the appearance that Senator Clark had attended a meeting when he had not.

The previous penalties included Senator Clark being removed as chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Senator Clark was first elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2012.