Public profile for RBBrittain

@map51 & Carville: Unless a prosecutor can find state charges to throw at him (rather doubtful), I think this and possible sanctions by the Securities Department and/or FINRA is the worst he'll get. (Either ASD or FINRA can pretty much assure he won't get another job in the securities industry, if they so choose.) It's clear from the complaint that the FBI gave him immunity from Federal prosecution, and the way Federal law is written going after him would have been more difficult (mail and/or wire fraud) than going after Shoffner (only SHE can be charged with extortion under the Hobbs Act).

Gov. Beebe, unless Autumn Sanson now has political ambitions I don't think you can do better than her to take care of the office till 2015. If you read the complaint carefully and compare it to public reports, it's clear she reported her own boss to the FBI. She clearly put the people's interests first, even at the risk of her own job; she should get the promotion till the next politician arrives in January 2015. (I have a funny feeling both Democrats and Republicans will agree.)

@GiveUsLiberty: Given the Federal laws involved, going after the broker would have made the case MUCH harder to prosecute. The Hobbs Act, under which Shoffner was charged, applies only to those RECEIVING extortion money, NOT those paying it. If the Feds had to go after him, they'd have to prove mail or wire fraud -- not just extortion.
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@NoUserName: State charges are still an option (the FBI can't hand out immunity from that), but Arkansas anti-corruption laws are extremely weak; Steve Clark's conviction was under a novel application of the generic theft-of-property statute. They'll also have to decide which county's prosecutor gets a crack at him -- most likely either Pope (his office) or Pulaski (treasurer's office); Jackson (Shoffner's home) is possible but unlikely as his main trip there was part of the FBI sting.

@DeeMacLady: I almost put this in my prior comment, but don't be surprised if Autumn Sanson is at the top of Gov. Beebe's list to finish Shoffner's term. If Shoffner resigns, Gov. Beebe will name her replacement; but under the Constitution that appointee cannot run for a full term in 2014. (High-level career employees, like Sanson, are often given those appointments to maintain office continuity; politicians seldom get them as they don't wanna be shut out of the election.) Though he's a lame duck now, Gov. Beebe would still gain brownie points he'll need in the 2014 fiscal session if he appoints Sanson.
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As far as your hint, I wouldn't be surprised if one or more term-limited female legislators, especially Joyce Elliott, runs for treasurer in 2014. In the last 50 years (since Nancy Hall in January 1963), only one man (Gus Wingfield) has served in that office; it is clearly open to women. It wouldn't be a huge stretch for an African-American woman to run, especially one as high-profile as Elliott.