Arkansas Treasurer Dennis Milligan has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for hiring his cousin to work in the treasurer's office and is reimbursing the state nearly $7,000 in salary his cousin was paid. Milligan and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the agreement Friday.
Rutledge said the agreement brings to an end her investigation into Milligan's hiring of Sam Swayze as an investment manager assistant in the treasurer's office at an annual salary of about $63,000. Milligan has said that Swayze began the job Jan. 14 and resigned Feb. 13 after the hiring was found to violate state law.
Milligan said in a statement that he made a mistake by hiring his cousin, apologized for his action and said he hopes the matter is now closed.
