Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
Featured Stories
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Victory in the U.S. Supreme Court to Successfully Defend Texas's Big Beautiful Map for 2026 Elections
AUSTIN, Texas, April 27 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Victory in the U.S. Supreme Court to Successfully Defend Texas's Big Beautiful Map for 2026 Elections
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Attorney General Ken Paxton has yet again successfully defended Texas's Big Beautiful Map in the U.S. Supreme Court.
After a district court enjoined the use of Texas's congressional map, Attorney General Paxton appealed that ruling and secured an emergency stay of the lower court's decision. The U.S. Supreme Court has now granted summary reversal, completely
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, April 27 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Victory in the U.S. Supreme Court to Successfully Defend Texas's Big Beautiful Map for 2026 Elections
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Attorney General Ken Paxton has yet again successfully defended Texas's Big Beautiful Map in the U.S. Supreme Court.
After a district court enjoined the use of Texas's congressional map, Attorney General Paxton appealed that ruling and secured an emergency stay of the lower court's decision. The U.S. Supreme Court has now granted summary reversal, completelyreversed the lower court's decision, and allowed the congressional map signed into law in August to remain in effect for the 2026 midterms.
"Radical left-wing groups attempted to sabotage Texas's lawful redistricting efforts, but the Supreme Court's ruling is a clear rejection of these meritless attacks and a victory for the rule of law," said Attorney General Paxton. "Texas's congressional map is lawful, constitutional, and reflects the will of our citizens, and I will continue to aggressively defend its use ahead of the 2026 midterm elections."
To read the order, click here (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/SCOTUS%20SR.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-secures-victory-us-supreme-court-successfully-defend-texass-big
Attorney General Hanaway Charges St. Louis Fraudsters For Medicaid Scam
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, April 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Charges St. Louis Fraudsters For Medicaid Scam
Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has filed criminal charges against Rebecca Walker and Douglaz Walker, who received payment after submitting false time records to Medicaid for personal care services they did not actually provide.
The Walkers, while claiming to be personal care attendants providing services such as dressing, meal
... Show Full Article
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, April 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Charges St. Louis Fraudsters For Medicaid Scam
Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has filed criminal charges against Rebecca Walker and Douglaz Walker, who received payment after submitting false time records to Medicaid for personal care services they did not actually provide.
The Walkers, while claiming to be personal care attendants providing services such as dressing, mealpreparation, and housekeeping to Rebecca's parent, a Medicaid recipient, did not render services and left the victim in abhorrent, dangerous, and progressively worsening conditions.
"No Missourian, especially our most vulnerable, should be forced to endure filth, neglect, or danger because someone decided to game the system," said Attorney General Hanaway. "It is absolutely disgusting and heartbreaking to see this kind of fraud happen every day in Missouri. It's my office's priority to root these abuses out on behalf of taxpayers."
The Walkers intended to conceal that they were paid to "take care" of the victim. During the entire time that the Walkers claimed to have provided service to the victim, they falsely stated that the victim and the victim's spouse were residing with them at a different address. One witness who saw the living conditions in the victim's apartment said they "could not believe" that Douglaz provided services and questioned whether the Walkers ever entered the apartment to provide the victim with services.
On December 30, 2023, officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department conducted a wellness check at the victim's apartment. Police discovered the residence in deplorable conditions-including dog feces, trash, spoiled food, flies, and refuse-and found the victim on the bedroom floor, next to their deceased and decomposing spouse, incoherent and unable to ambulate. Emergency medical services transported the victim to Barnes-Jewish Center Hospital, where they died the following day.
While claiming to be the victim's personal care attendants, Rebecca submitted false time records for 119 dates of service, and Douglaz submitted false time records for 238 dates of service. This caused Missouri Medicaid to be falsely billed for $27,937.76 for services not provided as claimed. Missouri Medicaid's Consumer-Directed Personal Care Program allows eligible Medicaid recipients to hire a personal care attendant to provide personal care services for them in their home.
Rebecca Walker and Douglaz Walker are each charged with two counts of False Statement to Receive a Health Care Payment and one count of Stealing by Deceit. All charges are class D felonies. If convicted, the Walkers could face fines, civil penalties, and up to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The Attorney General's Office reminds that the charges referenced are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
"Our mission is to protect Missouri's Medicaid program from fraud and abuse, ensuring that every dollar goes towards genuine care for those in need. These charges are a step towards justice and restoring integrity in our system," said Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief Counsel Arvids V. Petersons.
The case was investigated MFCU Investigator Josh King, following referral from the Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Special Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General John McKenzie and Lucas Chapman in coordination with Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson.
About the Missouri Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit:
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit's mission is twofold: first, to investigate and prosecute fraud committed by Medicaid providers who unlawfully divert taxpayer dollars, and second, to hold accountable those who commit abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in Medicaid-funded facilities. This Unit demonstrates the Attorney General's commitment to protecting vulnerable Missourians and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. The office is proud to be home to some of the state's most skilled prosecutors and investigators. Attorneys interested in joining this tradition of excellence and public service are encouraged to explore current opportunities at https://ago.mo.gov/about-us/job-opportunities/.
The Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,551,892.00 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,183,960.00 for FY 2026, is funded by Missouri.
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Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-charges-st-louis-fraudsters-for-medicaid-scam/
AG Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Arrests Slidell Couple for Defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid Program of Nearly $135,000
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, April 27 -- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued the following news:
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AG Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Arrests Slidell Couple for Defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid Program of Nearly $135,000
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Attorney General Liz Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) arrested a Slidell couple for defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid program of nearly $135,000.
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) received a criminal referral from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regarding allegations that Phuc and Tran Pham, of Marais River Drive in Slidell,
... Show Full Article
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, April 27 -- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued the following news:
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AG Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Arrests Slidell Couple for Defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid Program of Nearly $135,000
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Attorney General Liz Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) arrested a Slidell couple for defrauding Louisiana's Medicaid program of nearly $135,000.
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) received a criminal referral from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regarding allegations that Phuc and Tran Pham, of Marais River Drive in Slidell,both Medicaid recipients, had intentionally underreported their income for purposes to receive Medicaid benefits.
During this investigation, LBI agents learned that in the period between March 2022 and August 2025, Phuc and Tran Pham presented false information by failing to accurately report their marital status and true household income. As a result, the Pham's defrauded the Medicaid program of nearly $135,000.
On Thursday, April 23rd, LBI agents arrested Phuc Pham and Tran Pham pursuant to arrest warrants issued by the 19th Judicial District Court on charges of Government Benefits Fraud and Filing False Public Records.
36-year-old Phuc Pham was charged with:
* L.R.S. 14:70.9 Government Benefits Fraud (two counts)
* L.R.S. 14:133 Filing False Public Records (one count)
34-year-old Tran Pham was charged with:
* L.R.S. 14:70.9 Government Benefits Fraud (three counts)
* L.R.S. 14:133 Filing False Public Records (one count)
"Defrauding Medicaid is stealing from the hardworking taxpayers of our state. If you lie to obtain benefits, you're going to jail," said Attorney General Murrill.
The couple was booked without incident at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Their bond information is unknown.
The investigation continues.
Phuc Pham (above)
Tran Pham (above)
*All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Original text here: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Article/503
Attorney General Clark Announces $22 Million from Ongoing Settlement with Tobacco Manufacturers and Calls for Greater Scrutiny of Vape Market
MONTPELIER, Vermont, April 27 -- Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark posted the following news release:
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Attorney General Clark Announces $22 Million from Ongoing Settlement with Tobacco Manufacturers and Calls for Greater Scrutiny of Vape Market
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Attorney General Charity Clark today announced that Vermont received a total of $22,103,714.56 from tobacco manufacturers under the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Annually, Vermont receives monies from tobacco manufacturers from the MSA, which resolved the State's lawsuit filed in the 1990s. The settlement funds are credited to
... Show Full Article
MONTPELIER, Vermont, April 27 -- Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark posted the following news release:
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Attorney General Clark Announces $22 Million from Ongoing Settlement with Tobacco Manufacturers and Calls for Greater Scrutiny of Vape Market
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Attorney General Charity Clark today announced that Vermont received a total of $22,103,714.56 from tobacco manufacturers under the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Annually, Vermont receives monies from tobacco manufacturers from the MSA, which resolved the State's lawsuit filed in the 1990s. The settlement funds are credited tothe State's Tobacco Fund, and the Legislature determines how they are spent.
"As your Attorney General, I am committed to carrying forward Vermont's legacy of leadership against Big Tobacco and the growing nicotine and vape market addicting the next generation," said Attorney General Charity Clark. "My office will continue pursuing enforcement action against companies that profit off addicting our communities."
On November 23, 1998, Vermont's Attorney General and 46 states and territories Attorneys General signed the MSA with the four largest cigarette manufacturers in the United States, including Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds. The MSA settled lawsuits brought by the Attorneys General for violating consumer protection laws and to recover health care costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. To date, more than 45 tobacco companies have joined the MSA. As a leader in this effort, Vermont has received more than $840 million from the tobacco companies since 1998.
The MSA imposes significant restrictions on the participating tobacco manufacturers' advertising and marketing practices, like marketing to children, and requires them to pay the settling states billions of dollars each year in perpetuity so long as cigarettes are sold in the United States. To date, over $175 billion has been distributed to the settling states.
In Vermont, Attorney General Clark is supporting legislation that would ban vapes that are designed to look like toys or school supplies or gaming devices. These products are designed to be attractive to youth and easy to hide from adults. The bill (S.198) would also update Vermont's laws to recognize the increased use of nicotine pouches and other tobacco substitutes. With the nicotine and vape market continuing to grow, it is crucial that the Legislature take action to reign in its harmful effects before the next generation of Vermont kids become addicted.
Attorney General Clark has continued Vermont's legacy of leadership against Big Tobacco. In 2024, Attorney General Clark was appointed co-chair of the National Association of Attorneys General's (NAAG's) "Tobacco Committee," a position she continues to hold. As co-chair, Attorney General Clark leads a bipartisan, national group of attorneys general in their efforts to enforce, defend, administer, and improve the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Importantly, the Tobacco Committee also provides leadership for all members on tobacco matters not directly related to the MSA, including vaping, at a national level.
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Original text here: https://ago.vermont.gov/blog/2026/04/27/attorney-general-clark-announces-22-million-ongoing-settlement-tobacco-manufacturers-and-calls
Attorney General Alan Wilson touts two major victories in defense of religious liberty
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 27 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news:
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Attorney General Alan Wilson touts two major victories in defense of religious liberty
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(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson celebrates significant wins for religious liberty in two cases in which he joined two multistate coalitions to support the religious liberty claims.
In the first case, Attorney General Wilson joined a brief in December of 2025 supporting Catholic preschools in Colorado who had been barred from receiving universal pre-K funds.
... Show Full Article
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 27 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news:
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Attorney General Alan Wilson touts two major victories in defense of religious liberty
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(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson celebrates significant wins for religious liberty in two cases in which he joined two multistate coalitions to support the religious liberty claims.
In the first case, Attorney General Wilson joined a brief in December of 2025 supporting Catholic preschools in Colorado who had been barred from receiving universal pre-K funds.Those funds were withheld because of the school's religious beliefs about sex and their admission of only families that support the school's beliefs.
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, and it will be placed on the Court's docket.
"No State has the right to deny religious families from a universal funding program," Attorney General Wilson stated. "This is another victory for common sense and individual liberty. Deeply held beliefs should not be punished, especially just because they do not align with woke ideology."
The second brief was filed in support of the Alamo Heights Independent School District in Texas. Texas has a law (S.B. 10) that requires public schools to display a copy of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The plaintiffs in this case argued that the law was an establishment of religion and that the law also burdens religious exercise by coercing children to revere the Commandments. However, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Texas law does not violate the Establishment Clause, nor does it burden the right of individuals to worship as they wish.
"The Ten Commandments are displayed at the U.S. Supreme Court and other prominent buildings across our nation," Attorney General Wilson said. "Our country was founded on Christian principles, and this is a good step in promoting a better understanding of our nation's history."
You can read the brief supporting St. Mary Catholic Parish here.
You can read the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision here.
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Original text here: https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-touts-two-major-victories-in-defense-of-religious-liberty/
AG Brown sues Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen for deceptive 'buy one get one free' deals
OLYMPIA, Washington, April 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown sues Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen for deceptive 'buy one get one free' deals
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The corporate owner of Safeway, Albertsons, and Haggen grocery stores has overcharged Washington consumers in more than 3 million transactions over a five-year period through deceptive "buy one get one free" deals, Attorney General Nick Brown argues in a new consumer protection lawsuit filed today.
Boise-based Albertsons Companies, one of the largest grocery store chains in the country,
... Show Full Article
OLYMPIA, Washington, April 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown sues Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen for deceptive 'buy one get one free' deals
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The corporate owner of Safeway, Albertsons, and Haggen grocery stores has overcharged Washington consumers in more than 3 million transactions over a five-year period through deceptive "buy one get one free" deals, Attorney General Nick Brown argues in a new consumer protection lawsuit filed today.
Boise-based Albertsons Companies, one of the largest grocery store chains in the country,owns and operates all Safeway, Albertsons, and Haggen grocery stores in Washington, totaling 225 retail grocery stores across the state.
The grocery stores entice consumers through "buy one get one free" (BOGO) promotions on staples such as bread, cereal, fresh produce, and olive oil. According to the complaint filed in King County Superior Court, the stores artificially hike prices of products slated for the supposed specials in the weeks or months leading up to a "buy one get one free" promotion, overcharging customers who purchase in the interim. Then they lower the prices within about 30 days after the deal is over. The net result is that consumers think they're getting a second item free, but in practice, they're just paying an inflated price for the first item.
For example, a Gig Harbor Albertsons hiked the price of a bottle of olive oil to $10.99 for the BOGO promotion from $6.99 a week earlier, an increase of 57%. After the "buy one get one free" deal ended, the store dropped the price back down to $6.99.
"We're not going to stand for people getting fleeced by these deceptive practices," Brown said. "That's why we've filed this case. We want to make sure we're protecting people's pocketbooks, and we all know that affordability is a major issue these days. We've got to push back when companies are misleading their customers."
From October 2019 to May 2024, the defendants overcharged Washington consumers on more than 3 million transactions, the lawsuit says. The stores brought in as much as $19.7 million by attracting consumers into their stores with these deceptive deals.
This is not the first time the defendants have been accused of unfair and deceptive BOGO promotions in stores in the Pacific Northwest. Albertsons paid $107 million to settle a 2016 class action lawsuit related to misleading "buy one get one free" deals in Oregon stores. The companies also settled a proposed class action case filed in 2023 in federal court related to deceptive BOGO promotions in Washington stores.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) alleges the defendants violated the state's Consumer Protection Act by:
* Engaging in unfair and deceptive acts or practices by artificially increasing the pre-BOGO price of items and then lowering the price shortly after the promotion ends
* Misrepresenting prices and thereby engaging in an unfair method of competition
Brown is asking the court to rule that the stores' conduct violates state law, stop the defendants' use of unfair and deceptive BOGO promotions, provide restitution to Washington consumers, and pay civil penalties for each violation of state law as well as pre-judgment interest.
Assistant Attorneys General Bob Hyde and Shana Emile and Paralegals Judy Lim and Michelle Paules are handling the case for Washington.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
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Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ
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Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-brown-sues-albertsons-safeway-and-haggen-deceptive-buy-one-get-one-free-deals
Report on April 11, 2024 Taser Shipment to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections
CONCORD, New Hampshire, April 25 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Report on April 11, 2024 Taser Shipment to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the New Hamshire Department of Justice is releasing a final report concerning the Public Integrity Unit's investigation into the April 11, 2024 shipment of 192 Taser 10 conducted energy weapon systems to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC).
The investigation was initiated following an inquiry by Executive
... Show Full Article
CONCORD, New Hampshire, April 25 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Report on April 11, 2024 Taser Shipment to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the New Hamshire Department of Justice is releasing a final report concerning the Public Integrity Unit's investigation into the April 11, 2024 shipment of 192 Taser 10 conducted energy weapon systems to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC).
The investigation was initiated following an inquiry by ExecutiveCouncilor John Stephen regarding the delivery of the devices prior to approval by the Governor and Executive Council.
After a thorough criminal investigation, the Attorney General's Office determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed by NHDOC personnel or representatives of Axon in connection with the shipment or procurement processes. All 192 devices were returned to the vendor, and the State incurred no cost.
* Report: ago-report-re-investigation-into-4-11-24-shipment-of-taser-10-conducted-energy-weapon-systems-to-the-nh-doc-final.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/report-april-11-2024-taser-shipment-new-hampshire-department-corrections
N.J. A.G. Davenport Announces Relaunch of Addiction Response Website on the Eve of DEA's Take Back Day
TRENTON, New Jersey, April 25 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport Announces Relaunch of Addiction Response Website on the Eve of DEA's Take Back Day
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses today announced the launch of the redesigned Office of the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES) website. The redesigned site provides the public with easier access to resources and information needed to better understand
... Show Full Article
TRENTON, New Jersey, April 25 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport Announces Relaunch of Addiction Response Website on the Eve of DEA's Take Back Day
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses today announced the launch of the redesigned Office of the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES) website. The redesigned site provides the public with easier access to resources and information needed to better understandhow New Jersey's ongoing addiction crisis is impacting their communities and what resources are available to individuals and families in need.
"Launching the redesigned NJ CARES website reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are - with clear, accessible information and real support for families and communities navigating the challenges of substance misuse," said Attorney General Davenport. "This platform makes it easier for residents to understand how the addiction crisis is affecting their communities and, more importantly, how to find help when they need it."
The redesigned website combines easy access to interactive data dashboards featuring both state- and county-level data with access to critical treatment and recovery resources. Streamlined access to important data and resources for community partners, first responders, and researchers helps everyone work together toward the goal of decreasing substance misuse and eliminating its related harms.
Visitors to the website can also view educational videos and graphics and access a list of Project Medicine Drop locations throughout the state where New Jersey residents can dispose of their unused, expired, or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications safely and securely at any time throughout the year.
Today's launch coincides with tomorrow's National Drug Take Back Day, the biannual event held to provide a safe, convenient, and anonymous way for the public to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications, including habit-forming opioids that can lead to addiction, overdoses, and death.
"Together, through education, awareness, and community partnership, we can save lives and strengthen the health and safety of New Jersey families. The redesigned NJ CARES website is a step forward toward that goal," said Tiffany Wilson, Director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses. "As we mark National Drug Take Back Day, it's important to remember that prevention can begin at home. Safely disposing of unused or expired medications is a simple but critical step in reducing the risk of misuse and addiction."
NJ CARES was established in 2018 to coordinate the Department of Law and Public Safety's (LPS) addiction-fighting efforts. Now part of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, NJ CARES continues to act as a liaison between LPS, programs providing services for individuals with substance use disorder, and public safety partners connecting their communities to these services. NJ CARES administers and manages grant funding to develop and implement programs that connect individuals with a substance use disorder to services.
Operation Helping Hand (OHH), which partners law enforcement with peer recovery coaches in doing targeted outreach aimed at individuals impacted by substance misuse in an effort to connect them to care, is among the many programs NJ CARES supports.
View Website (https://www.njoag.gov/programs/nj-cares)
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The Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR) coordinates the LPS's efforts to address how the Department and New Jersey's law enforcement agencies respond to the country's continued mental health and addiction crises.
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-davenport-announces-relaunch-of-addiction-response-website-on-the-eve-of-deas-take-back-day/
Md. A.G. Brown Sues Trump Administration Over Failure to Implement Life-Saving Limits on Fine Particulate Matter Pollution
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration Over Failure to Implement Life-Saving Limits on Fine Particulate Matter Pollution
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 14 states and local governments in suing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The lawsuit challenges the EPA's failure to implement a lifesaving 2024 Clean Air Act rule strengthening national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration Over Failure to Implement Life-Saving Limits on Fine Particulate Matter Pollution
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 14 states and local governments in suing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The lawsuit challenges the EPA's failure to implement a lifesaving 2024 Clean Air Act rule strengthening national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter(PM2.5), a category of harmful airborne particles that includes soot, dust, and smoke. In the lawsuit, the coalition calls for a court order to ensure EPA takes the key steps required by Congress to initiate the rule's protections and kick off implementation planning.
PM2.5 particles are deadly air pollutants emitted from a variety of sources including combustion-engine vehicles, factories, and construction sites. Because of the particles' small size, once inhaled, they can penetrate the lower parts of lungs, move out of the respiratory system, and affect other organs. As a result, exposure can lead to myriad health problems, including shortened lifespans, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and cancer. These health effects fall disproportionately on lower-income communities and communities of color.
"Marylanders deserve clean air, and federal law requires EPA to protect it," said Attorney General Brown. "We will not stand by while the Trump Administration abandons standards that would save thousands of lives each year."
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set NAAQS for several pollutants, including fine particulate matter, at a level that protects public health and welfare. When NAAQS are updated, the Clean Air Act gives EPA a specific deadline to designate areas of the country that are in violation of the updated standard as "nonattainment." This designation provides key support for state programs to reduce dangerous pollution levels to safer levels.
Reductions in fine particulate matter are associated with decreases in the risk of mortality and increases in life expectancy. In 2024, in response to advocacy from Maryland and others, EPA strengthened the fine particulate matter NAAQS based on overwhelming scientific evidence. According to its own estimates, the EPA has reported that the first year alone of full attainment of the 2024 NAAQS will result in significant public health benefits, including avoiding 4,500 premature deaths, 2,000 emergency room visits, 5,700 new cases of asthma, 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms, 290,000 lost workdays, and 1,000 hospital admissions for Alzheimer's/Parkinson's diseases. The value of these and other health benefits would outweigh the estimated costs of implementation by $46 billion.
Shortly after EPA adopted the 2024 standard, a coalition of Republican states and chambers of commerce asked a federal court to strike down the updated standard. Maryland joined a lawsuit to defend the standard. The case is currently pending, and the 2024 standard remains in effect. In February 2025, the EPA missed its deadline for designating areas with soot levels that exceed the 2024 standard, denying Maryland and other states important tools to reduce air pollution.
Filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit alleges that the EPA violated the Clean Air Act by failing to designate areas in the United States as in or out of attainment with the 2024 standard. EPA's failure undermines the ability of states and local governments to reduce levels of fine particulate pollution in the air - especially in low-income communities and communities of color, who are disproportionately impacted - and to achieve significant public health benefits including reduced premature deaths, mortality, and healthcare and administrative costs. The lawsuit seeks both declaratory and injunctive relief, asking the Court to declare EPA's failure to implement the 2024 standard as unlawful and order it to carry out its responsibility to make attainment designations within 150 days of the court order.
Joining Attorney General Brown in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as Harris County and the City of New York.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Sues-Trump-Administration-Over-Failure-to-Implement-Life-Saving-Limits-on-Fine-Particulate-Matter-Po.aspx
Md. A.G. Brown Announces Charges Filed Against Capital Jazz
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Charges filed against Capital Jazz
Capital Jazz alleged to owe refunds for cancelled Jazz "SuperCruises"
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed a Statement of Charges against Maryland-based Capital Jazz, a local promoter of music-themed events including annual Jazz "SuperCruises," and the company's owner, Clifford Hunte.
The Division alleges that Capital Jazz and
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Charges filed against Capital Jazz
Capital Jazz alleged to owe refunds for cancelled Jazz "SuperCruises"
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed a Statement of Charges against Maryland-based Capital Jazz, a local promoter of music-themed events including annual Jazz "SuperCruises," and the company's owner, Clifford Hunte.
The Division alleges that Capital Jazz andHunte cancelled a SuperCruise scheduled to depart for the Caribbean in March 2026 and has failed to pay refunds to expecting purchasers. According to the charges, the cancellation violated an earlier settlement the Division reached with Capital Jazz in June 2025 regarding its failure to pay refunds for previously canceled SuperCruises. As stated in the charges, the Division is aware of at least 103 consumers it alleges are owed refunds totaling at least $642,240 for the cancelled 2026 SuperCruise. The Division believes that these consumers are likely only a portion of those who are owed refunds from the cancelled cruise.
The Division alleges that Capital Jazz not only violated the Consumer Protection Act by canceling the 2026 SuperCruise, but also by failing to pay restitution and penalties owed under its prior settlement.
"Capital Jazz made a commitment to Maryland consumers and broke it, and then they brazenly did it again," said Attorney General Brown. "My Office intends to use every legal tool available to hold it accountable in its failure to honor its obligations to consumers."
The charges are scheduled to be heard before the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings on July 21, 2026. Consumers with questions about the Attorney General's charges filed against Capital Jazz, including consumers who may believe they are owed refunds, can call 410-528-8662.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-Charges-filed-against-Capital-Jazz.aspx
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Sues to Block Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
PHOENIX, Arizona, April 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Sues to Block Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
Attorney General Kris Mayes today sued Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, ICE, and DHS to block a proposed detention facility in Surprise, AZ.
"The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country," said Attorney General
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, April 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Sues to Block Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Surprise
Attorney General Kris Mayes today sued Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, ICE, and DHS to block a proposed detention facility in Surprise, AZ.
"The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country," said Attorney GeneralMayes. "The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this facility in their backyards. They simply bought a warehouse, handed a $300 million contract to a private company and told the City to deal with it. We will do everything in our power to demand accountability from the federal government and to protect the health and safety of this community."
The lawsuit filed today alleges that DHS and ICE have not conducted or publicized the environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before proceeding with such a facility. The proposed facility also violates the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which requires the federal government to arrange for "appropriate" places for immigration detention. Given its location in a potential chemical hazard zone, the Surprise facility is not, and will never be, suitable for use as a mass detention facility.
Reports indicate that the proposed facility could house anywhere from hundreds to up to 1,500 individuals at any given time. The Surprise Warehouse was built as an industrial distribution facility for up to four commercial tenants -- not a space to house hundreds of human beings. Because the federal government has conducted no environmental review, the State has no way of knowing how they plan to modify the warehouse for its new purpose. As currently constructed, the Surprise Warehouse almost certainly lacks the water and wastewater infrastructure needed to safely house that many people.
Under NEPA, the federal government is required to take at least one of the following steps before moving forward:
* Identify a categorical exclusion,
* Compile an environmental impact statement, or
* Conduct an environmental assessment, resulting in either an environmental impact statement or a formal, public finding of no significant environmental impact.
The defendants did none of the above.
The Surprise Warehouse sits in an area zoned for industrial use -- directly across the street from a facility storing thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals. Housing a captive population that close to such a facility poses serious and unacceptable risks. The detention facility would also increase traffic in the area and strain the city and state's ability to provide emergency services, particularly in the event of an incident at the chemical warehouse across the street.
That warehouse also stores chemicals at levels that trigger federal Risk Management Plan requirements under the Clean Air Act. But the warehouse's Risk Management Plan was filed on January 1, 2026, three weeks before the announcement of the ICE facility. It does not consider the potential hazards made possible by the presence of a mass detention facility next door.
"The Trump administration is not exempt from following the law - placing such a facility in this area is reckless and dangerous," said Attorney General Mayes. "My office will not stand by while the federal government puts this community at risk."
Attachments
2026-04-24 Arizona v. Mullin Complaint with exhibits. (https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/2026-04-24%20Arizona%20v.%20Mullin%20Complaint%20with%20exhibits.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-sues-block-proposed-ice-detention-facility-surprise
A.G. Jones Holds Roundtable to Promote Fair Housing in Virginia
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Holds Roundtable to Promote Fair Housing in Virginia
Event facilitated dialogue and highlighted partnerships between government agencies, advocacy organizations, and impacted community members
*
Attorney General Jay Jones held a roundtable to advance fair housing for all in the Commonwealth on April 21, 2026, at the VCU Health Hub in Richmond's East End. The conversation between community leaders, advocates, and elected officials centered
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Holds Roundtable to Promote Fair Housing in Virginia
Event facilitated dialogue and highlighted partnerships between government agencies, advocacy organizations, and impacted community members
*
Attorney General Jay Jones held a roundtable to advance fair housing for all in the Commonwealth on April 21, 2026, at the VCU Health Hub in Richmond's East End. The conversation between community leaders, advocates, and elected officials centeredthe impact of the inequitable housing system into actionable strategies.
"My office will enforce fair housing laws to the fullest extent, but we know that enforcement alone is not enough. We must take steps to prevent fair housing issues before they arise. That's why discussions like the one we held today are vital," said Attorney General Jay Jones. "We have a responsibility to listen, to partner, and to work with those who understand these issues and the real-life consequences first-hand. Joining these communities where they're at and showing up is how we return this office to the people of our Commonwealth."
The chasms in access to opportunity and equality left behind by the blatantly discriminatory housing practices in America's history still exist today, despite the passage of the landmark Fair Housing Act in 1968 and the Virginia Fair Housing Law four years later. Dialogue centered on barriers roundtable participants have seen as it relates to fair housing, and opportunities for collective action between attendees. The Office of the Attorney General's role in enforcement and as a resource for stakeholders was also discussed.
Palmer Heenan, Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief for the Office of Civil Rights, gave remarks on the rights and protections of Virginians in all aspects of the housing process. Attorney General Jay Jones was also joined by:
* Senator Lamont Bagby, SD14
* Delegate Rae Cousins, HD79
* Amoore Speed, New Virginia Majority organizer in Southwood Community
* Tom Fitzpatrick, Executive Director Housing Opportunities Made Equal
* Latoya Gray-Sparks, Community Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Department of Historic Resources
* Christopher Rashad Green, Legal Aid Justice Center organizer in Petersburg
* Liz Hayes, Director of the Virginia Fair Housing Office
* David Young, Executive Director, Friends Association for Children
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3008-attorney-general-jay-jones-holds-roundtable-to-promote-fair-housing-in-virginia
A.G. Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Recovers 11 Missing Children in Georgia Through Operation 'Coast to Coast'
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 25 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Recovers 11 Missing Children in Georgia Through Operation "Coast to Coast"
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has recovered 11 missing children in Georgia and initiated multiple human trafficking investigations as a result of Operation "Coast to Coast" - a nationwide effort to locate victims, arrest buyers and sellers, and seize criminal assets.
More than 250 law enforcement
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 25 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on April 24, 2026:
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Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Recovers 11 Missing Children in Georgia Through Operation "Coast to Coast"
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has recovered 11 missing children in Georgia and initiated multiple human trafficking investigations as a result of Operation "Coast to Coast" - a nationwide effort to locate victims, arrest buyers and sellers, and seize criminal assets.
More than 250 law enforcementagencies across 30 states participated in this year's effort - mobilizing simultaneously Thursday to execute one of the largest anti-human trafficking operations in the United States. Overall, 129 victims were identified across the country, including 11 minors (all in Georgia) and one adult who was seven months pregnant.
"Sadly, the vast majority of our human trafficking cases involve a child who's gone missing," said Carr. "That's why operations like this are so important - allowing our team to work with law enforcement from across the country to safely locate victims, dismantle trafficking networks, and hold predators accountable. I'm proud of our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit for their tireless efforts over the past few days, but our work doesn't stop here. We will keep fighting until every child is recovered and every trafficker is behind bars."
Operation "Coast to Coast" was organized and led by the Human Trafficking Training Center (HTTC), a law enforcement training organization founded by former Missouri State Trooper Dan Nash. Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit served as the lead agency for Georgia-based efforts, working directly with the Georgia Department of Human Services Special Investigations Unit and the following partners: the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, the Atlanta Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Marietta Police Department, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Child Protection Task Force, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Delta Airlines.
Previous and Ongoing Operations Targeting Human Traffickers
In two years, Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has shut down more than 40 illicit massage businesses in Athens-Clarke, Cobb, Cherokee, Fulton, Floyd, Gwinnett, Hall, and Henry counties through an effort known as Operation "In Plain Sight."
Carr's team previously partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and other local, state and federal partners for Operation "Not Forgotten," which resulted in the safe location of 39 missing children in 2020 and 20 missing children in 2021.
This includes a 17-year-old victim who was previously reported as missing from her home in Kansas City, Missouri, and located at a hotel in Fulton County, where she was trafficked. From that one recovery, Carr's team has successfully prosecuted 13 traffickers, including those who bought and sold the child for sex.
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About the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
In 2019, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created the first-of-its-kind statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Since its inception, the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has secured more than 70 criminal convictions and rescued and assisted over 200 children. This Unit is based in Atlanta, with regional, satellite prosecutors and investigators in Macon and Augusta.
The Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit is housed in the Attorney General's Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit, his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, and his Organized Retail Crime Unit.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-04-24/carrs-human-trafficking-prosecution-unit-recovers-11-missing-children
