McKenna’s “Pillars of Hope” summit aims to arm opponents of human trafficking

SEATTLE — Federal officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, scholars, two filmmakers and a host of other concerned activists arrive in Seattle tonight for a confab to combat human trafficking.

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna issued the following statement today regarding the beginning of arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of portions of the national health care law:

WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Mark Kirk, R-IL, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT and Rep. Dave Reichert, R-WA have added their voices to the tens of thousands of Americans signing online petitions and letters to Backpage.com, calling on the online classified site to end so-called “adult services advertisements.”

LONGVIEW, Wash.—Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning today reversed his March 2 ruling and upheld Initiative 1183, allowing the state to continue to implement the liquor sales initiative approved by nearly 60 percent of the state’s voters.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Mary Tennyson and Assistant Attorney General Bruce Turcott defended the initiative on behalf of the state of Washington.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Rob McKenna today issued the following statement in response to Judge William Thomas McPhee’s ruling today in Thurston County Superior regarding the proposed ballot title for Referendum 74. The ballot title faced dual challenges from Preserve Marriage Washington, a group supporting the referendum, and the League of Women Voters and others, who oppose the referendum.

Complaint against mortgage servicers filed, paving way for $25 billion mortgage settlement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, along with 48 state attorneys general plus the District of Columbia, joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in alleging misconduct by the nation's five largest mortgage servicers in a civil complaint filed today.

OLYMPIA – A Seattle woman was sentenced Tuesday for Medicaid fraud charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office.

Deborah Raymond pled guilty to one count of First Degree Theft and one count of Medicaid False Statement. The charges stem from Raymond’s contract with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to provide Medicaid-funded services to her brother in 2007 and 2008. Such services generally include cooking, cleaning, shopping and other personal services for those unable to care for themselves.

“Comprehensive integration” of consumer data may compromise privacy

Owner of the Eatonville boarding home also accused of Medicaid fraud

SEATTLE – If history is any guide, scammers will surely try to take advantage of news of the largest consumer protection settlement in U.S. history.