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The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Michael Wickline did a full followup today on Treasurer Dennis Milligan's illegal hiring of his first cousin to a $63,000 job in the treasurer's office, first reported here Thursday.

IF WE DONT BLOW OUR OWN HORN WHO WILL? DEPT: The article didn't mention where the matter first came to light.

Milligan gave the Democrat-Gazette a written statement that reiterated the hiring was a mistake. He apologized.

You might recall that one of the first acts of the treasurer's office was to get the rules changed from a law passed by the Republican legislature in 2013 after the Martha Shoffner scandal. The law required Harris to have a degree in a business-related field. The rule was changed to allow a simple college degree in any field. Harris is paid $99,000.

Hiring a prohibited relative is a Class A misdemeanor. A separate statute provides a $1,000 civil penalty for such a hiring, but that describes it as a "knowing" act. Ignorance of a criminal law is no excuse.

Milligan, after I inquired, sent information to the attorney general's office about the situation. It has yet to issue a response.

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Democrat-Gazette follows up on Dennis Milligan's illegal hire; you're welcome