Gov. Mike Beebe remained steadfast Wednesday in his opinion that Lt. Gov. Mark Darr should resign in the wake of violating 11 ethics laws, despite Darr's comments Tuesday that he has no plans to end his term early.
Before his address of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators' Superintendent Symposium, Beebe on Wednesday afternoon said “nothing’s changed” in his opinion.
Darr conducted several interviews with news media and released a statement Tuesday attributing his misspending of campaign and taxpayer funds to "an oversight."
“I am not downplaying what has occurred, but there is no scandal, no conspiracy and no malicious intentional disregard of the law,” Darr said in the statement.
“It’s not healthy," Beebe said when asked what the situation has done to the state. “I don’t think anybody’s happy about it, on any side of the equation. I think everybody is saddened by it all, regardless of what their position is. I bet you if you ask [Darr] about it, he’s saddened by it. It’s not healthy.”
On Tuesday, Darr reiterated that he had no plans to resign, adding that he was speaking publicly to “get the truth out.”
Beebe stated during a brief news conference Dec. 31 that he thought Darr should resign.
In December, Darr was found by the state Ethics Commission to have violated 11 state campaign and ethics laws and misspent more than $44,000 in public funds dating back to when he ran for office.
When asked whether he believes an impeachment of Darr is inevitable, Beebe declined comment, saying he “wouldn’t begin to speculate on the legislature.”
IN TODAY'S EDITIONS
- http://www.arkansas…">Darr owns 'mistakes' but wont step down
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Mark Darr
