Arkansas Treasurer Dennis Milligan has paid $1,000 to the state in a settlement agreement reached after he hired his cousin to work in his administration, a violation of Arkansas law.
Milligan, who previously apologized for the violation, on Friday did so again and issued a statement calling the hiring a "mistake." He also said he had also reimbursed the state $6,941.62, the gross salary paid to the cousin before the issue came to light.
"Once again, I apologize to my family, my staff and more importantly, the people of Arkansas," Milligan said in the statement. "As a result of our internal review, I ordered the implementation of a new policy and procedure to ensure this does not happen again. These steps — the self-reported disclosure of the mistake, my public apology and paying both a civil penalty and fully reimbursing the taxpayer’s money back to them — will hopefully close this issue and allow us to get back to the job of governing."
Milligan had hired first cousin Sam Swayze as investment manager assistant, a post that paid $63,000 a year. Swayze began the job Jan. 14 and resigned Feb. 13 after reviews revealed the violation, Milligan said previously.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Friday that she had concluded her investigation after Milligan agreed to the settlement agreement. The $1,000 fine was the maximum civil penalty for the violation, she said, noting he has already paid it.
"Treasurer Milligan has met the requirements set forth in the settlement, and I now consider this matter resolved,” she said in a statement.
Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.