McDaniel spokesman: Attorney in relationship handled 5 cases

McDaniel
McDaniel

— The lawyer with whom Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has admitted an extramarital relationship was the opposing counsel in five cases since 2010 that were handled by the attorney general’s office, a spokesman said Thursday.

McDaniel’s office said Hot Springs attorney Andrea L. Davis was the opposing counsel in four cases in addition to a highly publicized school choice lawsuit the state lost. McDaniel, who has been married since 2009, on Tuesday admitted that he had an “inappropriate” relationship with Davis in 2011. McDaniel said he met her during his 2010 re-election bid.

McDaniel, a Democrat, is the only announced candidate for governor in 2014.

Thursday’s statement shows that Davis’ dealings with McDaniel’s office went beyond the school choice case. Davis represented a group of parents who successfully challenged the law. McDaniel’s office represents state education officials in that suit.

McDaniel’s office has defended his office’s handling of the school choice lawsuit and said he never talked with her about the case. Davis did not return calls Thursday morning.

“All of these cases were handled by senior and assistant attorneys general without direct involvement by the Attorney General,” McDaniel spokesman Aaron Sadler said.

The other four cases included three before the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board involving a Hot Springs Village veterinarian and a deceptive trade practices lawsuit the state filed against the owner of a fish hatchery. The state prevailed in all three cases, Sadler said.

Sadler released the statement after McDaniel’s office denied a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press for the attorney general’s phone records, emails and daily schedules. In a letter turning down the request, Chief Deputy Attorney General Brad Phelps cited an exemption in the open records law for the attorney general’s “unpublished memoranda, working papers and correspondence.”

Sadler also said the attorney general’s office was among law enforcement agencies sent an order by Garland County Circuit Court to assist in the return of Davis’ children from New Jersey. The AG’s special investigations division told Davis that the office could not assist her and referred her to law enforcement in New Jersey.

The custody dispute between Davis and her ex-husband was what ultimately prompted McDaniel to acknowledge the relationship. Davis’ ex-husband in October alleged a sexual affair between Davis and McDaniel in an October court filing.

McDaniel’s campaign has refused to detail the nature or extent of his relationship with Davis, but said he has no plans to drop out of the governor’s race.

Read more in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

photo

Arkansas State Police investigator Dennis Morris escorts a handcuffed Andrea Davis to a car on Feb. 29 after the body of Maxwell Anderson was found outside her home. No one has been charged in the case, which officials said Tuesday remains “active.”

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