Sarah Huckabee Sanders taps federal prosecutor to be Arkansas’ inspector general

Arkansas Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday that she plans to appoint Allison Bragg, an assistant U.S. attorney in Little Rock, to be the chief state government watchdog.

Bragg, who serves as the spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is Sanders’ pick for secretary of the Arkansas Department of Inspector General.

The department houses the Office of Internal Audit, the Fair Housing Commission, Medicaid Inspector General and Tax Appeals Commission. The agency’s purpose is to serve as a watchdog over the executive branch of government.

“Allison Bragg shares my vision to promote efficiency by tackling waste, fraud, and abuse at every level of government, making her the ideal choice to be the next Inspector General for our state,” Sanders said. “She is a respected federal prosecutor, a lifelong Arkansan, and brings a proven record of success and leadership to the talented team I have assembled. I look forward to working together to ensure that our government operates with integrity and accountability.”

Bragg will replace Secretary Elizabeth Smith.

Bragg, a Lee County native, has worked for 10 years as a federal prosecutor, and is currently the Little Rock U.S. Attorney’s white collar coordinator and public information officer.

“I am honored to be joining the Sanders Administration as Inspector General,” Bragg said. “Governor-elect Sanders has the right, bold vision to take Arkansas to the next level, and together we will work to ensure that we accomplish it with effectiveness, integrity, and honor.”