With pressure mounting for Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mark Darr to resign or be removed from office over ethics violations, fellow Republicans are now wrestling with the political consequences of a prolonged impeachment fight during an election year.
Several GOP lawmakers said Thursday they're still holding out hope the lieutenant governor will reconsider his plans to stay in office, and said they're worried that questions about the Republican official's future will overshadow next month's legislative session.
The top Republican in the House, Rep. Bruce Westerman, has said he believes Darr's impeachment is inevitable if he doesn't resign.
Darr, a Republican, acknowledged to the Ethics Commission last week that he broke state ethics and campaign laws 11 times since 2010 and agreed to pay $11,000 in fines.
