Arkansas senator who pleaded guilty in fraud case submits resignation, cites pride in work

State Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, on Tuesday submitted his resignation, effective Feb. 9.

Files tendered his resignation from his Senate District 8 seat a day after he pleaded guilty in federal court to felony charges of wire fraud, money laundering and bank fraud for pocketing state money he obtained for a Fort Smith softball complex and for pledging a forklift he didn't own as a collateral on a bank loan.

"It has been a privilege to represent Senate District 8 in the Arkansas Senate and to serve the citizens of Arkansas in the Arkansas General Assembly," Files wrote in a one-paragraph letter to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The governor's spokesman, J.R. Davis, said the letter was received late Tuesday afternoon.

"I am proud of the work we have done together during my tenure," Files said in his letter to the governor, who has served as the state's chief executive since 2015.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jan/31/files-submits-notice-cites-pride-in-wor/?f=news-politics