Pressure continues for Arkansas lawmaker to resign; judge assigned in case

HOT SPRINGS -- Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice John Dan Kemp signed an order Tuesday assigning Judge Brad Karren of the 19th West Judicial Circuit in Bentonville to the felony tax case of state Rep. Mickey Gates.

Circuit Judge Marcia R. Hearnsberger filed a letter of recusal in the case July 9, followed by similar actions by Judges John Homer Wright, Lynn Williams and Wade Naramore.

Gates, R-Hot Springs, is scheduled for a plea and arraignment in the case at 1 p.m. Oct. 2 in Garland County Circuit Court. Attorney Jeff Rosenzweig has said Gates will plead innocent.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson called on Gates to resign Tuesday, becoming the third prominent Republican to ask for Gates' resignation since the tax charges were made public. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, both Republicans, also have asked Gates to step down.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jul/19/judge-assigned-in-gates-tax-case-201807/