News/Events

2 investigators assigned – will join Public Corruption Task Force

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the creation of the Public Integrity Division of the Special Investigations Department at the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.

“Not only will this new Division punish violations of the public trust and compensate the loss of taxpayer funds through fines and restitution, it will join the FBI and Arkansas State Police in the Public Corruption Task Force,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “You do not check your ethics at the door when you take a position of public trust. When people abuse the public’s trust to steal from Arkansans, they must be held accountable for their actions.”

“We stand committed to the citizens of Arkansas in our efforts to reduce and eradicate public corruption in our state,” said Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Little Rock, “This new partnership between our agencies will help strengthen our commitments to the citizens of Arkansas to root out those individuals involved in public corruption.”

Attorney General Rutledge is using the already existing structure of the Special Investigations Department and assigning two additional law enforcement officers to work exclusively on public integrity issues. These positions are open investigator positions within the office’s existing budget.

The Public Corruption Task Force is leveraging the best assets of the Attorney General’s office, the FBI and State Police. The Attorney General’s office is designated by law with the statewide law enforcement jurisdiction and authority to prosecute corruption in conjunction with local prosecutors.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge applauded the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Janus v. AFSCME.

“The United States Supreme Court has once again stood up for the First Amendment and against forcing public employees to pay money to unions that promote political messages and workplace policies with which those employees disagree,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I was pleased to submit an amicus brief to the Court on this significant case and was very glad to learn the Court agreed with our arguments.”

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is praising the Supreme Court’s decision in support of President Donald J. Trump’s travel suspension executive order.

“President Trump’s executive order was lawful and the President properly exercised his authority when he suspended the entry of non-citizens from some countries into America to keep her citizens safe” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I was pleased to join this successful and significant amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in support of the President and the authority Congress specifically granted to the President to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants for the sake of national security. America is a country of laws and as Attorney General I will continue to defend the rule of law.”

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled with the National Institution of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA). The case centered around the State of California’s attempt to stifle NIFLA’s freedom of speech by compelling the pro-life organization to promote abortion services. California tried to require pregnancy centers that do not perform abortions to notify individuals about abortions offered by outside facilities.

“Today’s decision is a decisive win for the freedom of speech of all Americans, and a strong message that liberal states must stop trying to force people to support abortion against their conscience. I am pleased to have played a part in this victory by submitting a brief to the United States Supreme Court and speaking around Arkansas and the country on this incredibly important issue.”