Arkansas Governor Resigns After Impeachment Threat

Gov. Jim Guy Tucker launched state government on a wild ride Monday by disclosing five minutes before his planned resignation that he had changed his mind.

The Democratic governor then abruptly resigned hours later after receiving an ultimatum from the Republican lieutenant governor who was to succeed him.

Hundreds of state legislators and supporters of Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee were waiting in the Capitol for Huckabee’s swearing-in ceremony when Tucker announced in a letter that he would not quit. Tucker said he was transferring his authority and duties as governor to Huckabee but would officially remain in office until a court rules on a motion for a new trial on federal fraud and conspiracy charges.

Huckabee said he would call an emergency session of the state Legislature to seek Tucker’s impeachment unless he submitted his resignation by 9 a.m. today. Democratic Atty. Gen. Winston Bryant said he was filing suit to have Tucker removed from office.

Tucker finally informed Secretary of State Sharon Priest about 6 p.m. that he would resign after all. Huckabee was sworn in Monday night.

Tucker, who became governor in 1992 as President Clinton prepared to move to the White House, was convicted May 28 on two felony counts and announced soon after the trial ended that he would step aside. Jurors also returned convictions against James B. McDougal and his former wife, Susan McDougal, Clinton’s partners in the failed Whitewater real estate investment. The three are to be sentenced Aug. 19.

But Tucker filed a motion last week saying he had not received a fair trial because a juror had married a man whom the governor had twice denied a prison sentence commutation. Prosecutors have until next week to respond to the request for a new trial.