State GOP leaders call for McCollum’s resignation and withdrawal from race for Benton County Judge
The Republican nominee for Benton County judge faces allegations of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and domestic battery.
State Rep. Austin McCollum (R-Bentonville) was arrested early Saturday morning and booked into the Benton County Jail following an alleged domestic violence incident. Jail records listed first degree false imprisonment, aggravated assault on a family or household member, and third-degree domestic battery. McCollum is being held without bond as of Saturday afternoon, per KATV News.
Formal charges had not been filed at the time of the initial reports. It’s important to note that an arrest and jail booking are not a conviction and McCollum is entitled to due process.
But this is a substantial problem for Benton County Republicans and the state GOP. McCollum is a sitting state representative and the Republican nominee for Benton County judge, which is the county’s chief executive position. Right now it’s unclear if McCollum will face an opponent in the race for the County’s top position. McCollum has served in the Arkansas House since 2017 and previously held the powerful position of House majority leader.
Republican leaders moved quickly to distance themselves from him.
Attorney General Tim Griffin called the allegations “abhorrent” and demanded that McCollum resign from the Legislature and withdraw from the county judge race immediately. Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge withdrew her endorsement and issued the same call. Governor Sanders said McCollum should resign and end his campaign if the allegations are accurate.
Additionally, Speaker Brian Evans removed McCollum from House leadership and committee positions and stripped him of the privileges attached to those roles. In an updated statement, Evans called on McCollum to resign and said he would convene the House to take further action if McCollum refused.
The legal process will determine whether prosecutors can prove the allegations. Voters, however, face a separate question: Should someone accused of assault remain in the Legislature and continue his candidacy for Benton County Judge?
A felony conviction would settle part of that question as the Arkansas Constitution makes anyone convicted of a felony ineligible to serve in the General Assembly or hold another public office in the state.
