STATE SENATOR JOYCE ELLIOT (LEFT) AND RUSTY CRANFORD (RIGHT) ON ELECTION NIGHT IN 2012 |
Last week we received a tip that the FBI had their eyes on Arkansas State Senator Joyce Elliot (D) of Little Rock.
So we called the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District office in Lonoke (they are the agency that gave of the GIF booty) and made a verbal Freedom of Information request for "all files the FBI subpoened from their agency regarding state Senator Joyce Elliot."
CAPDD quicky responded, after all they had already prepared the records for the FBI, and did we strike gold.
Elliot funneled around $60,000.00 to Rusty Cranford just as felons Micah Neal and Jon Woods did.
NEAL & WOOD ALSO FUNNELED TAXPAYER FUNDS TO CRANFORD |
Neal testified at his trial back in April that "Jon and I expected to get paid."
The question we have is did Elliot also expect a payment and did she get one?
Cranford did not provide CAPDD with much in the way of documentation to show how the funds were spent and he changed what the money was going to be used for after making an application and obtaining approval.
Cranford's case is set for trial this month in Missouri.
MUGSHOT OF RUSTY CRANFORD |
We also found other questionable expenditures of taxpayer funds by Elliot.
Like public funds for a private United Methodist Church college, Philander Smith, $125,000 for equipment and scholarships.
And $7,000.00 for a choir concert for St. Luke Baptist Church in North Little Rock.
Then there was $25,000 to Mosaic Church for its Vine & Village program to purchase folding tables, computers and some boxes of diapers.
MOSAIC CHURCH - LITTLE ROCK |
The kicker was $26,000.00 to St. Mark Baptist Church for video equipment so they could upgrade to high definition for the broadcast their Sunday morning service on television.
ST. MARK BAPTIST CHURCH IN LITTLE ROCK |
One thing is for sure, it is time for Elliot to go. Even if the FBI does not charge her with crimes, she has outlived her stay as a public official.