Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
Featured Stories
N.J. A.G. Office: State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection With July 2024 Fatal Crash in East Orange During Pursuit by Bloomfield Police
TRENTON, New Jersey, Feb. 11 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release:
* * *
State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection with July 2024 Fatal Crash in East Orange During Pursuit by Bloomfield Police
A state grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Omar Williams, 43, of Hamilton in Mercer County, who died during a July 23, 2024 encounter in East Orange, New Jersey, with members of the Bloomfield Police Department (BPD).
Mr. Williams' death was investigated by the Office
... Show Full Article
TRENTON, New Jersey, Feb. 11 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release:
* * *
State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection with July 2024 Fatal Crash in East Orange During Pursuit by Bloomfield Police
A state grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Omar Williams, 43, of Hamilton in Mercer County, who died during a July 23, 2024 encounter in East Orange, New Jersey, with members of the Bloomfield Police Department (BPD).
Mr. Williams' death was investigated by the Officeof Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive. The investigation included witness interviews, photographs, radio transmissions, review of video footage from police dashboard cameras, body-worn cameras, and third-party cameras, as well as autopsy results from a medical examiner. This evidence, including video footage of the incident, was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating on February 9, 2026, and voted "no bill," concluding no criminal charges should be filed against the relevant officer.
According to the investigation, at approximately 10:57 a.m. on July 23, 2024, a female victim was robbed of her purse while exiting an Acme grocery store in Montclair. At approximately 11:12 a.m., a separate female victim was pushed to the ground and robbed of her purse while exiting a CVS in Bloomfield. In both incidents, the suspects fled in a Nissan Sentra. Witnesses reported the Nissan's license plate number. Law enforcement authorities later determined the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Montclair the day prior to the robberies.
Later that same day, authorities learned from automated license plate recognition (ALPR) notifications that the Nissan was in Newark. At approximately 12:57 p.m., Bloomfield Deputy Chief Anthony Sisco, in an unmarked police vehicle, located the Nissan in that city. He advised other units of his location and Lieutenant Michael Moleski, along with Detective James Romano, arrived in their unmarked police vehicle and joined Deputy Chief Sisco. The Nissan then sped away. Lieutenant Moleski and Detective Romano pursued the Nissan from Newark into East Orange, where they were joined by Sergeant Raymond Diaz in a marked police vehicle. Sergeant Diaz, utilizing the vehicle's lights and sirens, began following the involved vehicles. The pursuit spanned approximately 2.9 miles and lasted about four minutes.
At approximately 1:08 p.m., the Nissan drove into the wrong lane of travel on Park Avenue in East Orange. Simultaneously, a Toyota Camry driven by an uninvolved citizen pulled into the center lane to make a left turn. As the Toyota turned, the Nissan sideswiped the Toyota. The impact caused the Nissan to strike the front of a parked ambulance. Law enforcement officers removed Mr. Williams, who was unconscious at the time, from the Nissan. EMS transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:38 p.m. All other involved civilians suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Footage from law enforcement and third-party cameras related to the encounter were previously released and are posted online here.
N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General's Office to conduct investigations of a person's death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer's official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the involved officers. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and, as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.
A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflicts of interest were found involving any individual assigned to OPIA's investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by OPIA Executive Director Eric Gibson.
Now that the investigation has concluded, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA will determine whether any officer should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG's Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA will monitor any resulting review and take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.
Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found here (https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/ag-Directive-2019-4.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/state-grand-jury-declines-to-file-criminal-charges-in-connection-with-july-2024-fatal-crash-in-east-orange-during-pursuit-by-bloomfield-police/
Mo. A.G. Hanaway Cracks Down On Business Selling Illegal THC Products Marketed Towards Minors
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Feb. 11 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Hanaway Cracks Down On Business Selling Illegal THC Products Marketed Towards Minors
To protect children from the devastating harms of dangerous, psychoactive drugs, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed suit against Pressure STL, a business selling unregulated THC products without a license, including items deceptively marketed as non-intoxicating, well-known candy and snack brands enjoyed by children.
"We will not stand idly by as adolescents
... Show Full Article
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Feb. 11 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Hanaway Cracks Down On Business Selling Illegal THC Products Marketed Towards Minors
To protect children from the devastating harms of dangerous, psychoactive drugs, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed suit against Pressure STL, a business selling unregulated THC products without a license, including items deceptively marketed as non-intoxicating, well-known candy and snack brands enjoyed by children.
"We will not stand idly by as adolescentsare indoctrinated into addiction by unlicensed businesses prioritizing profit over consumers," said Attorney General Hanaway. "My Office will not tolerate drug dealers hiding behind candy wrappers."
As part of an ongoing operation to crack down on public nuisances and reclaim our communities, the Attorney General's Office launched a lawsuit asserting that Pressure STL is selling deceptively marketed products outside of Missouri's constitutional framework for legal marijuana. The Missouri Constitution and state law require safety testing and regulatory oversight of products, in addition to age-verification to ensure that underage persons do not have access to drugs.
Pressure STL is openly marketing dangerous products containing THC amounts well over the potency threshold designated by the 2018 Farm Bill. These THC products, which are often created through chemical conversion processes, may also contain contaminants, solvents, or unknown byproducts. These products are dangerous. The FDA has not approved any intoxicating hemp products or hemp-derived cannabinoids for safe use.
"My message to bad actors drawing crime to our communities: If you are selling harmful, misleading products to consumers - especially children - my Office will act without hesitation," said Attorney General Hanaway.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, is seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief prohibiting Pressure STL from selling cannabis products. Missourians who believe they were misled or harmed by intoxicating hemp products are encouraged to call the AGO Consumer Protection hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint at ago.mo.gov.
Attorney General Hanaway will continue to clean up our streets and root out illegal activities across the entire State of Missouri.
The full lawsuit against Pressure STL can be read here (https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/Petition.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-cracks-down-on-business-selling-illegal-thc-products-marketed-towards-minors/
Md. A.G. Brown Secures Commitment From Trump Administration That Removes Threats to Millions in Education Funding
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 11 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Secures Commitment from Trump Administration that Removes Threats to Millions in Education Funding
Agreement Removes Threats to More than $700 Million in Annual Federal Education Assistance for Maryland, Including More than $250 Million to Support Students with Disabilities
*
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in obtaining a commitment from the Trump administration that will prevent it from withholding federal funding
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 11 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Secures Commitment from Trump Administration that Removes Threats to Millions in Education Funding
Agreement Removes Threats to More than $700 Million in Annual Federal Education Assistance for Maryland, Including More than $250 Million to Support Students with Disabilities
*
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in obtaining a commitment from the Trump administration that will prevent it from withholding federal fundingfrom state and local education agencies that refuse to abandon lawful programs and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which promote equal access to education in K-12 classrooms across the nation.
"The Trump Administration tried to blackmail Maryland schools - abandon your commitment to equal education or lose the resources your most vulnerable students depend on," said Attorney General Brown. "This victory means Maryland students with disabilities, English language learners, and children from low-income families will keep getting the support they need. We will never sit idle while the federal government plays politics with our children's futures."
On April 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) informed state and local agencies that they must sign a document setting forth the Trump administration's new interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts - or else risk immediate and catastrophic loss of federal education funds.
Maryland provided the Department with written certifications, making it clear that Maryland and its local partners fully comply with Title VI and its lawfully issued implementing regulations, but it informed the Department that Maryland would not assent to its additional, unlawful demands.
On April 25, 2025, Attorney General Brown and a multistate coalition filed a lawsuit asserting that the Department's attempt to terminate federal education funding based on its misinterpretation of Title VI violates the Spending Clause, the Appropriations Clause, the separation of powers, and the Administrative Procedure Act. A complementary lawsuit filed by other parties in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, American Federation of Teachers, et al. v. United States Department of Education, obtained an important victory vacating the April 3 certification request. The administration decided not to pursue an appeal from that decision.
In the states' lawsuit, the administration confirmed today that the relief obtained in the American Federation of Teachers lawsuit applies to schools in Maryland. It prevents the administration from withholding any funding based on these unlawful conditions.
The agreement protects more than $700 million in financial support that the Department provides to Maryland each year for a wide variety of needs related to children and education, including more than $250 million in funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This funding further includes financial support to ensure that students from low-income families have the same access to high-quality education as their peers, bolster teacher training and development, and fund programming for non-native speakers to learn English.
Joining Attorney General Brown in signing this agreement are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
* * *
Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Secures-Commitment-from-Trump-Administration-that-Removes-Threats-to-Millions-in-Education-Funding--.aspx
Kan. A.G. Kobach Releases Opinion That Kansas's In-State Tuition Policies Violate Federal Law
TOPEKA, Kansas, Feb. 11 -- Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued the following news release on Feb. 10, 2026:
* * *
Kobach releases AG opinion that Kansas's in-state tuition policies violate federal law
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today issued an Attorney General Opinion that concludes that a Kansas statute granting in-state tuition to illegal aliens violates federal law.
"For more than 20 years, Kansas has been violating federal law with impunity. Now, the Trump Department of Justice is cracking down on states that have been violating that specific law banning in-state tuition
... Show Full Article
TOPEKA, Kansas, Feb. 11 -- Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued the following news release on Feb. 10, 2026:
* * *
Kobach releases AG opinion that Kansas's in-state tuition policies violate federal law
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today issued an Attorney General Opinion that concludes that a Kansas statute granting in-state tuition to illegal aliens violates federal law.
"For more than 20 years, Kansas has been violating federal law with impunity. Now, the Trump Department of Justice is cracking down on states that have been violating that specific law banning in-state tuitionfor illegal aliens. Seven states have already been sued, and the federal government has already prevailed in two of them. Kansas legislators would do well to bring Kansas into compliance with the law rather than being sued by the federal government," Kobach said.
The opinion, requested by State Rep. Samantha M. Poetter Parshall, analyzes how the Kansas statute conflicts with two federal laws: One, which prohibits states from offering postsecondary education benefits to illegal aliens based on residency unless the same benefits are available to U.S. citizens regardless of residency, and another, which generally bars illegal aliens from receiving state or local public benefits unless a state law enacted after Aug. 22, 1996, affirmatively provides for such eligibility.
According to the legal opinion, Kansas statute, K.S.A. 76-731a, deems certain illegal aliens as Kansas residents for tuition purposes, bases eligibility on attendance at Kansas high schools, and excludes residents of other states, all of which conflict with federal prohibitions. Kansas enacted its law in the early 2000s along with several other states.
However, in 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits against seven states--Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, California, and Virginia--with similar in-state tuition policies. The federal government reached settlements with Oklahoma and Texas.
The opinion reads, "In summary, K.S.A. 76-731a directly conflicts with federal law because it permits illegal aliens to qualify for in-state tuition rates without providing the equivalent benefit to U.S. citizens without regard to residency."
Read the opinion here (https://www.ag.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/268/1292).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ag.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/268/1292
HAWAII A.G. LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE EFFORT URGING CONGRESS TO PASS KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Feb. 11 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release:
* * *
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE EFFORT URGING CONGRESS TO PASS KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT
Attorney General Anne Lopez led a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from around the country, with a letter urging Congressional leadership to protect children from online harm and pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
The letter, signed by 40 attorneys general, was circulated to House and Senate leadership in advance of potential consideration of the House version of KOSA, House
... Show Full Article
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Feb. 11 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release:
* * *
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE LOPEZ LEADS MULTISTATE EFFORT URGING CONGRESS TO PASS KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT
Attorney General Anne Lopez led a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from around the country, with a letter urging Congressional leadership to protect children from online harm and pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
The letter, signed by 40 attorneys general, was circulated to House and Senate leadership in advance of potential consideration of the House version of KOSA, Houseof Representatives (H.R.) bill 6484, which contains expansive preemption language. States have pioneered laws that promote online safety for minors and attorneys general expressed concern in their letter that the provisions in H.R. 6484 could undermine existing and future state laws designed to protect children online -- and would limit states' ability to respond to and address new and emerging online harms.
"Hawaii and other states have led the way in responding to evolving digital harms and holding online platforms accountable," said Attorney General Lopez. "We urge Congress to build on that work by passing a strong Kids Online Safety Act that requires social media companies to design their products with children's safety in mind and empowers states to continue enforcing protections for our keiki." In the letter, the attorneys general expressed support for the Senate version of KOSA, Senate bill 1748, which includes a key Duty of Care requirement while enhancing and preserving states' authority to enforce and strengthen online protection for minors.
This push for federal legislation comes as many state attorneys general offices have launched investigations and lawsuits against major social media platforms like Meta and TikTok for their targeting of underage users. The attorneys general emphasized the urgency of Congressional action, as scrutiny of social media companies intensifies and evidence mounts regarding the harmful impact of addictive design features on children and teens.
Attorney General Lopez led the effort to send this letter to Congressional leadership alongside the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands and Wyoming.
A copy of the letter is available here (https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/01-30-KOSA_FINAL.pdf).
* * *
INFODOC: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/01-30-KOSA_FINAL.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/News-Release-2026-06.pdf
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Demands Answers From DHS on Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb. 11 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Demands Answers from DHS on Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes this week sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers about the proposed conversion of a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing and detention facility for 1,500 detainees.
The facility, located near the intersection of Sweetwater Avenue
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb. 11 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Demands Answers from DHS on Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes this week sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers about the proposed conversion of a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing and detention facility for 1,500 detainees.
The facility, located near the intersection of Sweetwater Avenueand Dysart Road, sits just 300 yards from residential homes and roughly a mile from a high school with a student population that is over 60 percent Hispanic.
"Prior to the starting any construction or operational activities, DHS must answer basic questions about the use of the facility and its impacts upon the local community," Attorney General Mayes wrote. Mayes also noted that local officials were not informed of the purchase in advance and that over eighty residents voiced concerns at a Surprise City Council meeting on February 3, 2026.
Attorney General Mayes joined a bipartisan chorus of federal lawmakers -- including U.S. Representatives Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-3), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-7) -- in seeking information from DHS. The letter poses ten detailed questions covering impacts to local schools, traffic, noise, water supply, waste disposal, medical care for detainees, and strain on municipal fire, law enforcement, and emergency services.
A copy of the letter is available here (https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=e5c4ca1847&e=9153ff6c96).
* * *
INFODOC: https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=e5c4ca1847&e=9153ff6c96
* * *
Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-demands-answers-dhs-proposed-ice-detention-facility-surprise
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Applauds House Passage of Critical Legislation to Combat Weapons Trafficking to Gangs and Criminal Organizations
PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb. 11 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following statement on Feb. 10, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Applauds House Passage of Critical Legislation to Combat Weapons Trafficking to Gangs and Criminal Organizations
Attorney General Kris Mayes today released the following statement after the Arizona House of Representatives passed House Bill 2131, legislation proposed by her office and sponsored by Representative Quang Nguyen (R-1), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee:
My office has seen firsthand the devastation these weapons cause in our communities.
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb. 11 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following statement on Feb. 10, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Applauds House Passage of Critical Legislation to Combat Weapons Trafficking to Gangs and Criminal Organizations
Attorney General Kris Mayes today released the following statement after the Arizona House of Representatives passed House Bill 2131, legislation proposed by her office and sponsored by Representative Quang Nguyen (R-1), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee:
My office has seen firsthand the devastation these weapons cause in our communities.Under current law, traffickers have been able to exploit loopholes and avoid serious prison time. HB 2131 changes that. This bill ensures that anyone who engages in weapons trafficking to gangs, criminal syndicates, or racketeering enterprises will face enhanced penalties.
This legislation is the result of collaboration between my office and law enforcement partners across the state who have been calling for stronger tools to combat the trafficking networks that endanger law enforcement officers and Arizona communities.
By closing these dangerous gaps in the law, we will help prosecutors across Arizona hold these traffickers accountable and disrupt the pipeline that puts guns and explosives in the hands of Arizona's most dangerous criminals. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bipartisan public safety measure and send it to the Governor's desk.
* * *
Background on HB 2131:
HB 2131 expands the offense of weapons trafficking to include the transfer of even a single weapon or explosive when done to assist or advance organized criminal activity, including gangs, criminal syndicates, and racketeering enterprises.
The bill imposes mandatory prison sentences by prohibiting probation, early release, or sentence suspension in cases involving the trafficking of three or more weapons or explosives, whether charged in a single offense or consolidated for trial. The legislation targets professional traffickers who supply violent criminal networks with the tools they use to commit crimes, intimidate communities, and endanger law enforcement officers.
HB 2131 is part of the Attorney General Mayes' ongoing commitment to combating organized crime and protecting communities from gun violence, and ensuring that those who fuel violence through weapons trafficking face serious consequences.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-applauds-house-passage-critical-legislation-combat-weapons
