Today's did you know?

Arkansas Republican State Representative Austin McCollum was arrested early Saturday morning, August 1, 2026, following a violent domestic incident involving his wife.

He was booked into the Benton County Jail and released the following day on Sunday, August 2, after posting a $10,000 bond.

The ChargesAccording to Benton County Jail records, the 35-year-old lawmaker faces three specific charges:

First-degree false imprisonment (Felony)

Aggravated assault on a family or household member (Felony)

Third-degree domestic battery (Misdemeanor)

An arrest affidavit reveals that responding deputies found McCollum visibly intoxicated. According to the report, a verbal argument escalated when McCollum began throwing items at his wife. Documents state that he punched her in the face splitting her eyebrow open slammed her head into the ground, and pinned her down.

He then allegedly attempted to force her to clean up the blood to hide the injuries before a family member managed to call 911.

Following his bond hearing, McCollum's release came with strict mandates:

No contact with his wife.

Barred from entering their shared residence.

Next court date is scheduled for September 8, 2026.

McCollum is in his fourth term as a state representative and is the lone Republican nominee running for Benton County Judge in the upcoming November election.

His arrest has prompted immediate, widespread bipartisan condemnation:

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin explicitly called the allegations "appalling" and demanded that McCollum immediately resign his seat and drop out of the judge's race.

Arkansas Speaker of the House Brian Evans quickly announced that McCollum has been removed from all House leadership roles, including his committee vice-chairmanship.