Leslie Rutledge, in the runoff for the Republican nomination for attorney general, is calling down her opponent David Sterling for taking a campaign contribution from a payday lender.

He reported a $2,000 contribution from Ace Cash Express. Says the Rutledge campaign:

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The predatory practices of payday lenders take advantage of Arkansans and go after the most economically deprived individuals and communities in Arkansas. Payday lenders often charge upwards of 800% interest on loan preying on those in need. A critical role of the Attorney General is to protect Arkansas consumers against those who seek to harm and take advantage of them.

“How can someone protect Arkansans from the predatory practices of payday lenders while at the same time accepting thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from them? As Arkansas’s Attorney General, I will fight to protect consumers and will not let payday lenders take advantage of hardworking Arkansans. I want the people of Arkansas to know that the Attorney General’s Office is not for sale,” added Rutledge.

Current Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has vigorously pursued the payday lending business. His office’s legal action has effectively rooted the business out of Arkansas. So a friend for a potential A.G. from this industry is, at a minimum, worth a note. You can’t help but wonder if their ilk might be among the sources for the secret dollars that has been used to trash Rutledge and help Sterling.

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