State Rep. Mickey Gates plead not guilty to charges of six felony counts of failure to pay or file income tax returns. Gates was arrested in June, for allegedly not paying taxes for 15 years.
Authorities claim Gates owes just under $260,000 in back taxes, penalties, and interest.
While the Governor and other legislators have called on Gates to resign his seat, Gates is running for re-election in November. Notably, Governor Hutchinson stated in regards to the arrest of his own nephew, State Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson who is facing federal corruption charges:
“As a political leader, I know the United States Attorney always reminds the public that these charges are only allegations and he is presumed innocent, but the reality is that the charges alone undermine public confidence in our system of government.”
State Sen. Mickey Gates has been suspended from his role in leadership positions and certain committee assignments following his arrest.
Gates will appear before a judge on January 3, 2019.
Watch Conduit News Radio’s exclusive interview with State Sen. Mickey Gates on these charges below:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4fAHqGZ-Qs[/embedyt]
