EPA halts safety review, putting Washington farmworkers, children and pregnant women potentially at risk

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today seeks to join a federal lawsuit demanding that Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt complete a scientific safety review of the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos. Pruitt abruptly halted a review already underway earlier this year.

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court yesterday alleging campaign finance violations by the San Juan County Democrats (SJCD). Specifically, the AGO asserts the committee failed to timely report a total of $30,290 in expenditures, $15,514 in debt, and $15,060 in contributions throughout 2016.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson recused himself from any involvement in the matter.

Rules protect federal student loan borrowers against predatory for-profit colleges

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today sought to protect student loan borrowers from predatory for-profit schools by moving to intervene in a federal lawsuit.

In California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) v. DeVos, a group of private schools filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, challenging a new Obama Administration rule that would protect student borrowers at for-profit schools.

Trump Administration’s refusal to rein in oil and gas facilities’ emissions violates the Clean Air Act

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent a letter today to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt, pledging legal action if the EPA continues violating the Clean Air Act.

The Clean Air Act requires that, once the EPA adopts a rule to limit emissions from new and modified facilities in a given industrial sector, it must establish guidelines for limiting emissions from existing facilities.   

Ferguson, 10 other attorneys general, file briefs supporting cities and counties fighting Administration

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has joined nine states and the District of Columbia in urging a federal judge to deny the Trump Administration’s request to dismiss three California cases challenging its executive order threatening “sanctuary jurisdictions.”

Washington leads effort to change VA rule denying surgical services to transgender veterans

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson is leading a coalition of nine states and the District of Columbia urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transgender veterans access to medically necessary health care.

Court rules in cases filed in Hawaii and Maryland

OLYMPIA — The U.S. Supreme Court today accepted review of cases filed in Hawaii and Maryland challenging President Trump’s revised travel ban. Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement on the court accepting the cases and its decision to partially lift injunctions blocking the executive order:

Multiple violations alleged against King County Democrats’ Chair Bailey Stober

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) filed a petition today in King County Superior Court seeking enforcement of a civil order issued in the state’s campaign finance investigation of King County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Bailey Stober.

Jury sends dangerous sex offender to Special Commitment Center

VANCOUVER — A Clark County jury decided yesterday to civilly commit repeat sex offender Michael Canty. Prosecutors from Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit have been fighting since 2016 to prevent Michael Canty’s release into the community.

The trial began on June 12 and ended June 21 with the jury’s decision that Michael Canty is a sexually violent predator.

Committee accused of filing seven reports a total of 445 days late

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that it filed a complaint in King County Superior Court today alleging campaign finance violations by the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee. Specifically, the committee failed to timely file seven financial disclosure reports accounting for more than $16,000 in contributions and expenditures.