LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas House has approved legislation that would make lying to legislators a crime punishable by up to a year in prison.
The bill approved on a 59-6 vote Friday would make it a class A misdemeanor to lie while testifying before a legislative committee. The proposal now heads to the Senate for a vote.
Republican Rep. Nate Bell of Mena said his proposal wouldn’t lead to rampant prosecution of people testifying before legislative committees, and said it would be up to the prosecutor to pursue a case. He said a high bar would have to be cleared to prove someone knowingly and willfully lied to a legislative panel, and said the measure would also apply to legislators.
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