In his annual financial disclosure report, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin reported that non-governmental sources paid more than $48,000 in travel-related expenses in 2023, including a trip to South Korea.
Republican attorneys general reported that the Attorneys General Alliance paid more than $41,000 in national conference and training expenses last year, including food, lodging and travel expenses.
According to the alliance's website, the Attorney General's Alliance (AGA) serves as a bipartisan forum where attorneys general work together to share ideas, build relationships, and participate in conferences, panel discussions, working groups, and community meetings. It plays a role in promoting enforcement through its activities.
Wednesday was the deadline for elected officials and other senior officials across state government to submit annual reports on their financial interests to the Secretary of State's office.
State employees who appear in court in an official capacity and whose expenses exceed $150 must include on their annual financial disclosure report each non-governmental source of payment for meals, lodging, and travel expenses connected to the agency. It is mandatory to include the following.
The fees paid to Mr. Griffin by the Attorney General's Alliance included $14,784.95 in costs from October 28 to November. 4; her $13,000 as her July or August redemption advance with the wife; $11,416.80 with my wife from June 19th to 22nd. His 2023 statement of financial interest is $2,178.88 from Aug. 9 to 11.
These visits also included visits to the “AGA DMZ and Korea Seoul Trade Security Mission and Korea Foundation.” “2024 AGA 80th Anniversary Normandy D-Day Honorary Delegation”; Rancho Palos Verdes, California. So is Seattle, according to Griffin.
He said the Normandy 80th anniversary trip, for which refunds had been prepaid, would not take place until this summer.
Griffin said that historically U.S. senators and congressmen have been invited to South Korea, but in recent years state attorneys general have been invited to South Korea.
He said he was one of four state attorneys general and several attorney general staff members who participated in the Attorney General's Alliance Trade and Security's visit to South Korea with the Korea Foundation.
“It was very useful and [at] It costs the taxpayers absolutely nothing,” Griffin said.
He said a large part of South Korea's investment in the United States is in battery production, and lithium is an essential element in electric vehicle batteries.
Oil giant Exxon and Canadian company Standard Lithium are investing in a project in southern Arkansas that will separate lithium from brine pumped from deep underground.
But Griffin said the people he met in South Korea during his trip didn't and still do know about Arkansas' ties to lithium.
He said an intellectual property lawyer who was on a trip to South Korea plans to visit Arkansas next week and meet with Arkansas officials.
In his 2023 report, Griffin reported that the Republican Attorneys General Association paid $2,927.97 in travel expenses (including food, lodging, and travel) for the national conference held in New Orleans from February 12th to 14th. did. The Federalist Society paid $747.95 for the conference, which was held in New Orleans from September 28 to 30, including meals, lodging, and travel. And the Law and Policy Center paid $580.79, including food, lodging and travel expenses, for the national conference held in Washington, D.C., October 12-13.
He also reported that the National Association of Attorneys General paid $1,179.40 in national conference and training expenses, including food, lodging and travel, from April 18-19 and $492 from December 5-6. did. Citizens for Accountable Government Inc. also paid $935.76 for the conference, which was held in Columbia, South Carolina, from August 16th to 17th, including food, lodging, and transportation.
Griffin said the expenses paid by the National Association of Attorneys General included travel to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
State officials will include in their report a reasonable explanation of the source, date, description, and fair market value of each gift over $100 received by them or their spouse and each gift over $250 received by a dependent child. It is necessary to enter the estimated amount. .
Mr. Griffin also received gifts valued at $7,876 for the use of a suite at Razorback Stadium on November 11th from Jim and Merritt Dyke, and on December 10th from Ryan Holder a gift valued at $7,876 for the use of a suite at Razorback Stadium. They reported receiving tickets valued at $370. Attorney General's spokesman Jeff LeMaster said the $370 was for a Dallas Cowboys football game.
Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge reported that more than $10,000 of her travel-related expenses in 2023 were paid for by non-governmental sources.
The Republican lieutenant governor reported that the Republican State Leadership Committee in Washington, D.C., paid $6,049.61 for national conference and training expenses in June, including food, lodging and transportation. January is $2,833.42. In August, it was $1,234.28.
Asked about the destination of the trip, Sandy Hall, the lieutenant governor's deputy chief of staff, said in a written statement Thursday that “Lieutenant Governor Rutledge has provided all the information required for a statement of financial interest.”
In 2023, House Speaker Matthew Shepard (R-El Dorado) reported that the State Legislative Leadership Foundation paid $2,190.35 in program fees for the National Speakers Conference, which will be held from September 6-8. The meeting was held in Salt Lake City, according to House Chief of Staff Roy Ragland.
Mr. Shepherd also received $400 worth of tickets from James F. Phillips Jr. to the Nov. 29 University of Arkansas-Fayetteville vs. Duke basketball game, and air transportation costs from Alex Leebron of Conway to Del Rio, Texas. Reported gifts valued at $590. Mr. Leebron is the chairman of the Arkansas Horse Racing Commission.
Republican State Treasurer Larry Walther, a former Secretary of the State Department, reported that the State Treasurer's Foundation paid $1,887.72 for the Aug. 28-31 conference. He also reported that the foundation paid $1,348.76 for the August 28-31 meeting. The foundation hosted a national conference and economic summit in Plano, Texas, from Aug. 28 to 31, according to its website.
Republican Secretary of State John Thurston, State Comptroller Dennis Milligan and Land Secretary Tommy Rand did not report non-governmental sources of payments for food, lodging, travel or gifts in their 2023 filings. Ta.
Senate President Pro Tempore Bert Hester (R-Cave Springs)'s 2023 annual financial disclosure report was not posted on the Secretary of State's Office website as of late Thursday afternoon.
