A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arkansas State Legislator To Resign After Being Charged In Corruption Probe

Jeremy Hutchinson
Brian Chilson
/
Arkansas Times

Attorneys say a nephew of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson plans to resign from the state senate to focus on defending himself from corruption charges.

Attorneys for Republican state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson Attorneys on Friday called the new accusations that he had spent campaign funds on personal expenses, including a Caribbean cruise and tuition payments, inaccurate. But they say he's stepping down so that Capitol business can proceed without "unnecessary distraction."

Federal prosecutors announced earlier Friday that Jeremy Hutchinson is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns. He issued a statement saying he plans to defend himself against the charges.

Hutchinson announced last year that he wouldn't seek re-election this year. He is the latest in a string of Arkansas legislators to face accusations of corruption.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
Related Content