Arkansas State Police is investigating whether employees in the Faulkner County clerk's office tampered with financial paperwork for public officials to make it appear they were filed on time.
Clerk Margaret Darter has declined to comment on the matter.
A prosecutor sought a review by the agency, citing irregularities with filings of financial interest statements by county elected officials. The documents provide limited information on sources of income and holdings in the previous year for officials and their spouses.
Such statements are due annually by Jan. 31 for most public-office holders. Since the date fell on a Saturday this year, the documents were due by the next business day.
Darter emailed all 13 justices of the peace on Feb. 27, reminding them to file their statements and that she would "hand file them for January 31st." Two newspapers obtained the email through an open-records request.
