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Arkansas Ethics Commission finds that two attorneys with the Wright Lindsey Jennings law firm violated Arkansas laws in the campaign for a Little Rock city board seat

Attorneys Atwan Phillips and Adrienne Lee Baker get an "F" in campaign finance laws

The Arkansas Ethics Commission found that two attorneys with the Wright Lindsey Jennings law firm, Atwan Phillips and Adrienne Lee Baker, violated Arkansas laws in the campaign of Phillips for a Little Rock city board at-large seat.

Both Phillips and  Baker signed consent orders admitting numerous violations of Arkansas laws concerning campaign finance actives. They were also ordered to pay minuscule fines.

Apparently neither lawyer bothered to read up on the Arkansas laws regarding campaign finance activity or felt that the laws did not apply to them. Either way it reflects poorly on the law firm that pays both of them a very large salary.

The complaint was made by our own Russ Racop. You can read about the complaint by clicking here.

Baker was the treasurer for  the exploratory committee, Friends of Antwan Phillips or FAP. 

FAP was chaired by Virgil Miller, who was appointed by Phillips and other Little Rock board of director members to fill the seat of Ward 1 city director Erma Phillips.

FAP failed to file timely contribution and expenditure reports and accepted illegal contributions from prohibited entities. 

FAP also failed to cease operations when Phillips officially became a candidate and turn over funds raised to Phillips. Instead, FAP became an illegal campaign organization.

FAP also paid for and utilized an on-line donation platform which illegally raised funds to retire Phillips campaign debt.

Here is the Commissions findings and consent order signed by Baker.

Phillips failed to file a single campaign contribution and expense report in spite of being handed a packet that explained the required filings and forms by the city clerk when when he filed to run for office. Pretty stupid for a high paid attorney in a big law firm. 

Here is the Commissions findings and consent order signed by Phillips. 

If you attend or watch Little Rock board meetings you would be shocked to see Philips in action. You would never know he was a licensed attorney by some of the questions he asks about legal issues.

Apparently Phillips is more concerned about reclaiming his narrative than adhering to Arkansas laws.

Phillips now joins with Directors Wright and Adcock in being admitted campaign finance lawbreakers. Not a good thing for any elected official.

 

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