OLYMPIA – Washington veterans and active-duty military whose personal information was potentially compromised in the recent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data security breach have the ability to request a credit report security freeze to help protect themselves from identity theft.

Attorney General Rob McKenna said that while there have been no reports that the stolen data has been used for identity theft, Washington veterans and military should take prudent steps to protect themselves from potential harm. A credit freeze is one of the strongest options available to them.

OLYMPIA–Attorney General Rob McKenna will present the “Operation: Allied Against Meth” task force legislation to the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee Monday. Members of the “Operation: Allied Against Meth” task force and others law enforcement officials have been invited to join him both at the hearing and at a media availability shortly before the hearing begins.

OLYMPIA - Attorney General Rob McKenna will personally present the state’s arguments next Tuesday in Madison v. State of Washington. It will be his first argument as attorney general before the Washington Supreme Court.

The state seeks to overturn King County Superior Court Judge Michael Spearman’s ruling that Washington’s current felon disenfranchisement law is unconstitutional because it requires felons to complete all the terms of their sentences– including payment of financial obligations such as crime victims' restitution– before they regain their right to vote.

OLYMPIA - After rallying a group of city officials in Olympia for the Association of Washington Cities’ legislative days, Attorney General Rob McKenna and attorneys from the office’s liability division will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the need for new government liability standards to reduce taxpayer exposure to government liability.

WHAT:
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear SB 6215, sponsored by chairman Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, and ranking Republican Sen. Stephen Johnson, R-Kent, which defines government liability.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna will join other community leaders and members of the Kent Police and Fire departments at the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent for their “Babies on the Move” ceremony Saturday.

The event marks the opening of the center’s new location roughly one block from their existing location.

Olympia, WA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, Assistant Attorney General Dave Huey, and Chuck Cross, Director of Consumer Services for the Department of Financial Institutions, will be available by phone from Los Angeles on Monday to brief reporters on a multi-state settlement with Ameriquest. The briefing will provide background on the case, information about the terms of the settlement, and a description of how Washington consumers are affected.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced formal adoption of a model rule on public disclosure. 

The anticipated effect of the rule is to streamline compliance, standardize best practices and reduce litigation by establishing a culture of compliance among agencies and a culture of cooperation among requestors.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the hiring of a new computer forensics investigator to help fight high-tech fraud schemes including identity theft.

Aaron Munn will join the Consumer Protection Division in Seattle starting Sept. 26. Munn has worked for the Attorney General’s Office as an information technology specialist for the past five years.

SEATTLE – Consumers who purchased additional tire warranties within the past two years from a Firestone Tire & Service Center in Washington may be eligible for a refund. Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with Firestone Tire & Service Centers, resolving allegations that the company sold road hazard warranties with its tires without informing consumers that the warranties were optional.

SEATTLE - A $1.52 billion multi-state settlement with Enron became official today when attorneys on both sides signed the agreement. Attorney General Rob McKenna first announced the settlement last month. It resolves some of the claims of market manipulation and price gouging stemming from the energy shortage of 2000-2001.

The states of Washington, California and Oregon, as well as some California utilities and other organizations, are parties to the settlement. The agreement must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Enron bankruptcy court.