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Okla. A.G. Drummond Calls for Lepak's Immediate Firing After Body Cam Footage Released
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Aug. 19 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Drummond calls for Lepak's immediate firing after body cam footage released
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on Gov. Stitt to remove Secretary of State Ben Lepak from office, following new details from Edmond police body camera footage of Lepak's Friday night arrest for public intoxication.
"After reviewing footage from law enforcement body cameras, it is clear that Secretary of State Ben Lepak was thoroughly inebriated and very likely lied to
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Aug. 19 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Drummond calls for Lepak's immediate firing after body cam footage released
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on Gov. Stitt to remove Secretary of State Ben Lepak from office, following new details from Edmond police body camera footage of Lepak's Friday night arrest for public intoxication.
"After reviewing footage from law enforcement body cameras, it is clear that Secretary of State Ben Lepak was thoroughly inebriated and very likely lied tolaw enforcement about how much he had to drink and how he and his car both arrived at the same place without him driving it.
This conduct is thoroughly unbecoming of a such a high ranking state official, and I am demanding that Gov. Stitt fire him immediately.
"Given the fact that Mr. Lepak had been arrested just a few years ago after being found unconscious in a running vehicle, Gov. Stitt should have known better than to elevate him to such a senior leadership position.
Gov. Stitt has made countless errors in judgment like this during his tenure in office, including most recently when he intervened to help a campaign donor avoid further jail time. He cannot undo those past mistakes, but he can help our state avoid further embarrassment by firing Mr. Lepak immediately."
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/august/drummond-calls-for-lepak-s-immediate-firing-after-body-cam-footage-released.html
N.J. A.G. Davenport: Former Senior Correctional Police Officer Pleads Guilty After Smuggling Contraband Into Newark's Northern State Prison in Exchange for Bribes
TRENTON, New Jersey, Aug. 19 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Former Senior Correctional Police Officer Pleads Guilty After Smuggling Contraband into Newark's Northern State Prison in Exchange for Bribes
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced today that a former senior correctional police officer at Northern State Prison admitted to accepting payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into the facility. He was terminated from his position in July 2025.
Christopher
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TRENTON, New Jersey, Aug. 19 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Former Senior Correctional Police Officer Pleads Guilty After Smuggling Contraband into Newark's Northern State Prison in Exchange for Bribes
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced today that a former senior correctional police officer at Northern State Prison admitted to accepting payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into the facility. He was terminated from his position in July 2025.
ChristopherSantana, 33, of Hackensack, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit bribery during a hearing on August 18, 2026, before Judge Michael Ravin, presiding in state Superior Court in Essex County.
Under the terms of a plea agreement with OPIA, prosecutors will recommend the court sentence the defendant to three years in New Jersey state prison. As a result of his guilty plea, the defendant also forfeited $4,500 in alleged bribe payments as well as any public employment, and he will be permanently barred from holding any public office or public employment in New Jersey. Sentencing is scheduled for October 5, 2026.
The case arose from an investigation by OPIA's Corruption Bureau and the Special Investigations Division (SID) of the New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC).
"It is a serious breach of public trust when anyone responsible for upholding the law and maintaining order betrays his duties for personal gain," said Attorney General Davenport. "Corrupt actions like these make correctional facilities less safe and secure for inmates and officials alike, and undermine public trust in government."
"Accepting bribes and smuggling contraband undermines the work of the thousands of correctional professionals who serve with integrity every day and directly jeopardizes the safety of staff and incarcerated persons," said DOC Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn. "The Department will continue to aggressively work with law enforcement to investigate misconduct and hold accountable anyone who compromises the security of our institutions."
As alleged in publicly filed documents in this case:
On the evening of June 10, 2025, Santana arrived for his scheduled shift at the prison. At that time, law enforcement observed a large bulge protruding from the chest area of his clothing. A search of Santana revealed he had two vacuum-sealed bags containing tobacco and three bottles of an unknown liquid concealed underneath his protective vest as well as near his upper thigh area.
The ensuing investigation revealed that between approximately May 2024 and June 2025, the defendant received thousands of dollars in bribes from associates of inmates incarcerated at Northern State Prison, in exchange for smuggling contraband into the facility. In addition to cash, Santana also received payments via a personal mobile digital payment app in exchange for his introduction of contraband into the facility.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Samantha Eaton for the Corruption Bureau.
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/former-senior-correctional-police-officer-pleads-guilty-after-smuggling-contraband-into-newarks-northern-state-prison-in-exchange-for-bribes/
Md. A.G. Brown Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Aug. 19 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
As part of a multistate coalition, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown secured a major victory after the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down a key provision of a Trump administration final rule that would have excluded coverage of certain types of gender-affirming care as essential health benefits under the Affordable Care
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Aug. 19 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
As part of a multistate coalition, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown secured a major victory after the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down a key provision of a Trump administration final rule that would have excluded coverage of certain types of gender-affirming care as essential health benefits under the Affordable CareAct (ACA). Essential health benefits are subject to the ACA's financial protections, including limits on out-of-pocket costs.
"The Trump Administration tried to make essential care unaffordable for transgender Marylanders by stripping it out of the Affordable Care Act's cost protections," said Attorney General Brown. "We fought to keep that care covered, and we won. My Office will always defend Marylanders' right to the care they need."
The final rule at issue -- the "Marketplace Integrity and Affordability" rule -- was proposed by the Trump administration in March 2025 purportedly to curb ACA enrollment fraud and reduce federal spending on subsidies that help consumers afford ACA coverage. Among other changes, the rule would have removed certain types of gender-affirming care from the ACA's 10 essential health benefit categories.
In July 2025, Attorney General Brown and the coalition filed a lawsuit challenging nine separate provisions of the final rule, arguing that they would make it harder for consumers to get coverage through the ACA, increase costs for states, and weaken key ACA protections. Seven were later vacated in separate litigation, City of Columbus et al. v. Kennedy et al., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully modified the categories of essential health benefits without following the proper procedures the ACA requires.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Secures-Major-Court-Victory-Protecting-Gender-Affirming-Care-Under-the-Affordable-Care-Act.aspx
Ga. A.G. Carr Secures New Indictment for Trafficking of 16-Year-Old Following Operation 'Global Chain'
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 19 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Carr Secures New Indictment for Trafficking of 16-Year-Old Following Operation "Global Chain"
International operation resulted in the recovery of 11 missing children in Georgia
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FULTON COUNTY, GA - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has secured the indictment of Eric Gordon, 36, of Decatur, for the trafficking of a 16-year-old female in Fulton County.
The victim was recovered during Operation "Global Chain"
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 19 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Carr Secures New Indictment for Trafficking of 16-Year-Old Following Operation "Global Chain"
International operation resulted in the recovery of 11 missing children in Georgia
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FULTON COUNTY, GA - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has secured the indictment of Eric Gordon, 36, of Decatur, for the trafficking of a 16-year-old female in Fulton County.
The victim was recovered during Operation "Global Chain"- an international law enforcement effort to combat human trafficking. This operation took place from June 8, 2026, to June 12, 2026, and included partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and AMERIPOL, as well as Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Overall, the operation resulted in the recovery of 11 missing children in Georgia alone, including the victim in this case.
"This is exactly why we can never stop fighting to recover a missing child, and we're using all available resources to bring them home," said Carr. "By partnering with law enforcement both in Georgia and around the globe, we're able to locate even more victims and ultimately save even more lives, but our work doesn't stop here. We're going after everyone involved in the trafficking of a child, and we won't rest until they're off our streets and behind bars."
This case was investigated by the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. The Georgia Department of Human Services Special Investigations Unit, Atlanta Police Department, FBI's Atlanta Field Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Special Operations Unit, and Richmond County Sheriff's Office all assisted in the victim's recovery as part of Operation "Global Chain."
Fulton County Indictment
On Aug. 17, 2026, the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit presented evidence to a Fulton County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Eric Gordon.
The defendant is facing the following charges.
* 1 count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude in violation of O.C.G.A. Sec. 16-5-46: Did unlawfully provide a minor for the purpose of sexual servitude
Gordon was taken into custody on Aug. 4, 2026, with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service.
No further information about the investigation or the indictment may be released at this time by the Attorney General's Office.
Previous and Ongoing Operations Targeting Human Traffickers
Earlier this year, Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit participated in Operation "Coast to Coast" - a nationwide effort to locate victims of human trafficking, arrest buyers and sellers, and seize criminal assets. Eleven missing children were recovered, and multiple human trafficking investigations were initiated as a result of this operation.
In two years, Carr's team 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."
This Unit also 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.
*Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government's burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-08-18/carr-secures-new-indictment-trafficking-16-year-old-following-operation
Ga. A.G. Carr Appoints New Chief of Statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 19 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Carr Appoints New Chief of Statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Chris Keegan has been appointed as the new Section Chief of the office's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. He fills the role of Hannah Palmquist, who previously served as the Section Chief since the Unit's formation in 2019. Palmquist recently transitioned to a new role as Senior External Engagement Liaison. Both appointments took effect on Aug.
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 19 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Carr Appoints New Chief of Statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Chris Keegan has been appointed as the new Section Chief of the office's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. He fills the role of Hannah Palmquist, who previously served as the Section Chief since the Unit's formation in 2019. Palmquist recently transitioned to a new role as Senior External Engagement Liaison. Both appointments took effect on Aug.3, 2026.
"Since joining our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2023, Chris Keegan has been a vital part of our team - helping to oversee major recovery operations and prosecutions," said Carr. "His leadership will prove essential as we work with all levels of law enforcement to rescue even more victims and take down even more offenders. We also want to recognize and thank Hannah Palmquist for her service over the past seven years. She has played a critical role in our Unit's success and assisted hundreds of victims in the process. We know both Hannah and Chris will continue to represent our state well in these new roles."
In 2019, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, 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.
Chris Keegan - Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
Chris Keegan joined the Attorney General's Office as Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2023. In this role, he has helped to lead a team dedicated to the prosecution of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Keegan earned his bachelor's degrees in Political Science and History from Kennesaw State University and his law degree from the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law. While in law school, he interned with the Cobb County District Attorney's Office. As a result of his hard work in Cobb County, Keegan was named the "Most Outstanding Prosecution Student" in UGA's School of Law Class of 2016.
After law school, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Coweta Judicial Circuit, eventually specializing as the county's gang and organized crime prosecutor. During this time, Keegan obtained convictions on murder, gang, child molestation, rape, child pornography, and domestic violence charges.
He has conducted national human trafficking trainings for the National Association of Attorneys General, the Attorney General Alliance, and the National District Attorneys Association.
Hannah Palmquist - Senior External Engagement Liaison
Hannah Palmquist joined the Attorney General's Office as Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2019. In this role, she oversaw teams in Atlanta, Macon, and Augusta dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of domestic minor sex trafficking. Palmquist also provides training to local, national, and international audiences.
She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for DeKalb and Cobb counties. In Cobb County, Palmquist started in the Trial Division before moving to the Special Victims Unit, where she prosecuted sexual offenses and crimes against children, including human trafficking. In September 2018, she became the supervisor of the Cobb County Juvenile Unit, where she worked with juvenile runaways and victims of human trafficking.
Palmquist earned her law degree from Emory University School of Law.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-08-18/carr-appoints-new-chief-statewide-human-trafficking-prosecution-unit
Del. A.G. Jennings Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
DOVER, Delaware, Aug. 19 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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AG Jennings secures major court victory protecting gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act
Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced a major victory in securing access to gender-affirming care. Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down a key provision of a Trump Administration final rule that would have excluded coverage of certain types of gender-affirming care as essential health benefits under the Affordable Care
... Show Full Article
DOVER, Delaware, Aug. 19 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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AG Jennings secures major court victory protecting gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act
Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced a major victory in securing access to gender-affirming care. Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down a key provision of a Trump Administration final rule that would have excluded coverage of certain types of gender-affirming care as essential health benefits under the Affordable CareAct (ACA). Essential health benefits are subject to the ACA's financial protections, including limits on out-of-pocket costs.
"Since day one, my office has been fighting to stop the Trump Administration's war on transgender Americans because it's not just despicable and cruel - it's also plainly illegal," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "The transgender community was here long before this corrupt Administration put a target on their backs, and they'll be here long after it's been confined to the dust heap of history."
The final rule at issue -- the "Marketplace Integrity and Affordability" rule -- was proposed by the Trump Administration in March 2025 to curb alleged ACA enrollment fraud and reduce federal spending on subsidies that help consumers afford ACA coverage. Among other changes, the rule would have removed certain types of gender-affirming care from the ACA's 10 essential health benefit categories.
In July 2025, Attorney General Jennings and the coalition filed a lawsuit challenging nine separate provisions of the final rule, arguing that they would make it harder for consumers to get coverage through the ACA, increase costs for states, and weaken key ACA protections. Seven were later vacated in separate litigation, City of Columbus et al. v. Kennedy et al., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the Trump Administration unlawfully modified the categories of essential health benefits without following the proper procedures the ACA requires.
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Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/08/18/ag-jennings-secures-major-court-victory-protecting-gender-affirming-care-under-the-affordable-care-act/
Court Grants Okla. A.G. Drummond's Request to Stay Judgment Against Poultry Companies
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Aug. 19 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Court grants Drummond's request to stay judgment against poultry companies
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has accepted Attorney General Gentner Dummond's motion to stay the judgment against poultry corporations in light of the settlement he reached with the companies in July. The case will return to district court for the judgment to be released.
In July, Drummond announced a nearly $44 million settlement to resolve Oklahoma's 21-year lawsuit
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Aug. 19 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Court grants Drummond's request to stay judgment against poultry companies
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has accepted Attorney General Gentner Dummond's motion to stay the judgment against poultry corporations in light of the settlement he reached with the companies in July. The case will return to district court for the judgment to be released.
In July, Drummond announced a nearly $44 million settlement to resolve Oklahoma's 21-year lawsuitagainst six companies over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Tyson Foods, Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods were found liable for the pollution.
"All parties came to the table to find a solution to protect Oklahoma's water and to provide certainty for our poultry industry," Drummond said. "The result is a balanced solution that protects our natural resources and supports one of Oklahoma's most important industries."
Under the settlement, the defendants will pay $41.67 million to an Environmental Relief Fund for watershed stewardship and litigation costs, pay $420,000 in penalties to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Revolving Fund, provide a combined $1.9 million Auditor Fund to pay for an independent compliance monitor and progressively reduce how much poultry litter removed from poultry houses each year is applied to land in the watershed.
Read the Order (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/august/Tyson%20Order%20on%20Settlement.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/august/court-grants-drummond-s-request-to-stay-judgment-against-poultry-companies.html
