Sarah Sanders billed taxpayers $13K for college football kickoff party: records

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spent more than $13,000 in taxpayer funds for a kickoff party for the Arkansas Razorbacks 2023 football season at the governor's mansion, according to a report.

The invitation-only "Undefeated Party" took place Sept. 1, the night before the university played its first game of a season that has since seen the team go 3-7. It featured head coach Sam Pittman, three costumed mascots, the University of Arkansas cheerleaders and dance team and members of the school band, reported Arkansas Times.

The publicly funded Governor's Mansion Commission spent at least $13,081.36 on the bash, according to records provided by the Department of Transformation & Shared Services, including $1,429.22 for gingham-checked tablecloths purchased from Amazon.

The biggest expense by far was food, with nearly $4,500 purchased from food and beverage distributor Ben E. Keith.

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The commission also paid $449.88 for 600 buttons from Jennifer Bethel, who appears to be an area sales manager for Dillard's Inc. and who Sanders purchased nearly $2,400 in personalized shirts and $1,000 in personalized jackets from earlier this year.

Other expenses include $812.50 for bamboo plates and pompoms, $778.50 in flowers, candles and tablescapes, and $600 for a DJ.

Sanders is facing additional scrutiny after a public records request showed her office paid $19,000 for a lectern and a whistleblower accused her office of covering up the spending.