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Special Prosecutor Sought To Review Lawmaker's Case

Paul Bookout

A prosecutor in northeast Arkansas is calling for a special prosecutor to review an ethics panel's findings about a Democratic state senator.

The Arkansas Ethics Commission on Friday fined Sen. Paul Bookout $8,000 and reprimanded him after finding out that he spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on women's clothing, a home theater and other personal items last year.

Prosecutor Scott Ellington on Monday called for a special prosecutor to be appointed to review the commission's findings and determine whether there should be a criminal investigation.

Ellington says he and Bookout attend the same church. Bookout didn't immediately respond to a phone message left Monday.

He has said that he will reimburse his campaign $49,000 and repay contributors. Bookout is a former president of the state Senate.