Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
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Va. A.G. Jones Jointly Files Lawsuit to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar/Tegna Broadcasting Merger
RICHMOND, Virginia, March 20 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Jointly Files Lawsuit to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar/Tegna Broadcasting Merger
Merger would create a media giant covering 80% of U.S. television households, driving up costs and harming consumers
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Late last night, Attorney General Jay Jones, alongside a coalition of 8 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit to block the acquisition of Tegna Inc. (Tegna) by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nexstar). Tegna and Nexstar are two major broadcast station companies
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RICHMOND, Virginia, March 20 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Jointly Files Lawsuit to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar/Tegna Broadcasting Merger
Merger would create a media giant covering 80% of U.S. television households, driving up costs and harming consumers
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Late last night, Attorney General Jay Jones, alongside a coalition of 8 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit to block the acquisition of Tegna Inc. (Tegna) by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nexstar). Tegna and Nexstar are two major broadcast station companiesthat own and operate television stations throughout the country. If allowed to proceed, the deal would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, putting more broadcast programming in the hands of fewer people, removing control from the communities they report to, cutting local jobs, and significantly impacting the delivery of news and other media content to Americans nationwide. Due to the considerable increase in consolidation, the deal is also expected to raise prices and harm consumers.
This acquisition of Tegna would allow Nexstar to control three major affiliates in the Norfolk television market alone.
"Our free press is under constant threat from Donald Trump, and Virginians simply cannot afford to lose more independent local news voices. Unfortunately, we already know what happens when Nexstar comes to town to buy local television stations - stations close, jobs are cut, and local news quality is reduced," said Attorney General Jones. "Reports show that over 65% of Virginians trust local news to report accurately, compared to less than 46% for national news. Trust that is built by the independent local news voices heard in homes throughout Virginia every day. When stations close and those voices are eliminated, ties to the community become strained or broken altogether. Virginians deserve to get their news from the diverse, community-focused reporting that they trust, not recycled content created to serve only the bottom line."
The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleges the merger clearly violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which holds that mergers that substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly are illegal. In addition to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also has authority and responsibility to halt such a merger, as the $6.2 billion Nexstar/Tegna deal would violate an FCC rule which would prohibit this merger. However, on February 7, 2026, President Trump tweeted "Get that deal done!," saying that the two companies should be allowed to merge in order to "Knock out the Fake News" from the "Fake News National TV Networks." FCC Chairman Brendan Carr immediately responded on social media: "Let's get it done."
In filing today's lawsuit, Attorney General Jones joins the attorneys general of California, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
The Trump Administration has shown states and consumers that it is more concerned with protecting corporate interests than doing its job to defend the public and uphold consumer protection and antitrust laws that help make life affordable for American families. DOJ settled days into the much-awaited Live Nation/Ticketmaster trial -- an action promptly rejected by a bipartisan group of attorneys general.
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2985-attorney-general-jay-jones-jointly-files-lawsuit-to-block-6-2-billion-nexstar-tegna-broadcasting-merger
N.J. A.G. Davenport, DEP Amend Suit Against Major Scrap Metal Recycler After Additional Fires
TRENTON, New Jersey, March 20 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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AG Davenport, DEP Amend Suit Against Major Scrap Metal Recycler After Additional Fires
Camden Residents Living Near EMR Continue to be Plagued by Fires
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that the January 2026 lawsuit filed against scrap metal recycler EMR Advanced Recycling has been amended to hold EMR accountable for several additional fires that have occurred in recent weeks.
"Shame
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TRENTON, New Jersey, March 20 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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AG Davenport, DEP Amend Suit Against Major Scrap Metal Recycler After Additional Fires
Camden Residents Living Near EMR Continue to be Plagued by Fires
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that the January 2026 lawsuit filed against scrap metal recycler EMR Advanced Recycling has been amended to hold EMR accountable for several additional fires that have occurred in recent weeks.
"Shameon EMR. For years, fires at their facilities have endangered public health and public safety. Those fires continue to this day, with multiple new blazes reported in the last few weeks alone," said Attorney General Davenport. "Together with our partners in the Department of Environmental Protection, we are committed to holding EMR accountable and protecting the public from these recurring fires. We look forward to proving our case against EMR in court and putting a stop to this outrageous conduct once and for all."
"Camden residents should not have to live under the ongoing threat of fires that impact their quality of life and pose public health and safety risks," said DEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. "Together with Attorney General Davenport and her team, the DEP will work to ensure that EMR is held accountable for its continued failure to prevent these fires from occurring."
The State amended the complaint to include reports of another fire at the shredder facility on February 26, 2026, as well as reports of scrap metal on fire aboard an EMR-owned barge traveling in the Delaware Bay on March 10, 2026. The barge was transporting scrap metal from EMR's Bayonne facility to EMR's Camden facilities.
EMR has a long history of fires at its facilities across the state, dating back to 2020. The fires have filled nearby streets with smoke and air pollution, creating an ongoing public nuisance that has severely harmed the health and well-being of Camden's residents.
EMR owns and operates metal recycling facilities that collect, process, and recycle scrap metal. It has facilities in the Camden Waterfront South neighborhood, which is an area characterized as an overburdened community under New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law. These communities have significant low-income, minority, and/or limited English proficiency populations.
Amended Complaint (https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/STAMPED-EMR-Amended-Complaint.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-dep-amend-suit-against-major-scrap-metal-recycler-after-additional-fires/
N.H. A.G. Formella: James Gray Sentenced on Sale of Controlled Drug
CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 20 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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James Gray Sentenced on Sale of Controlled Drug; Death Resulting and other Drug Charges
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that James Gray, age 48, of Ossipee, New Hampshire, was sentenced by the Carroll County Superior Court today on one count of Sale of a Controlled Drug; Death Resulting, four counts of Sale of a Controlled Drug (fentanyl), three counts of Sale of a Controlled Drug (methamphetamine), and one count of Possession of a Controlled
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, March 20 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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James Gray Sentenced on Sale of Controlled Drug; Death Resulting and other Drug Charges
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that James Gray, age 48, of Ossipee, New Hampshire, was sentenced by the Carroll County Superior Court today on one count of Sale of a Controlled Drug; Death Resulting, four counts of Sale of a Controlled Drug (fentanyl), three counts of Sale of a Controlled Drug (methamphetamine), and one count of Possession of a ControlledDrug with Intent to Distribute.
The defendant was sentenced to serve 7 1/2 to 15 years in state prison on the Sale of a Controlled Drug; Death Resulting charge, 7 1/2 to 15 years in state prison on the four Sale of a Controlled Drug (fentanyl) charges, and 3 1/2 to 7 years in state prison on the three Sale of a Controlled Drug (methamphetamine) charges. The seven Sale of a Controlled Drug charges will run concurrent with each other and consecutive to the Sale of a Controlled Drug; Death Resulting charge. 3 years of the defendant's minimum sentence on these charges will be suspended upon completion of certain programming while incarcerated. On the Possession of a Controlled Drug with Intent to Distribute charge, the defendant was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 3 years, all of which is suspended for a period of 10 years from his release from incarceration. These sentences result in an aggregate term of 15-30 years in state prison, with 3 years of the minimum suspended upon completion of certain programming, with an additional sentence of 1 1/2 to 3 years suspended for a period of 10 years from the date of his release.
The evidence in this case established that between September and November of 2023, the defendant made seven sales of controlled drugs to a confidential informant. On October 17, 2023, the defendant sold a quantity of fentanyl to another individual. This individual provided the fentanyl to the victim, which ultimately caused the victim's death.
The investigation and resolution of these cases were the result of collaborative efforts of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the Conway Police Department, and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/james-gray-sentenced-sale-controlled-drug-death-resulting-and-other-drug-charges
Md. A.G. Brown Files Motion for Preliminary Injunction to Halt Construction and Operation of Unlawful ICE Detention Facility in Washington County as Litigation Continues
BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Files Motion for Preliminary Injunction to Halt Construction and Operation of Unlawful ICE Detention Facility in Washington County as Litigation Continues
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from converting a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland, into a mass immigration detention facility. The motion comes after the U.S. District Court for the District of
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 20 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Files Motion for Preliminary Injunction to Halt Construction and Operation of Unlawful ICE Detention Facility in Washington County as Litigation Continues
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from converting a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland, into a mass immigration detention facility. The motion comes after the U.S. District Court for the District ofMaryland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on March 11 immediately pausing any construction or retrofitting of the warehouse. The Court has since extended the TRO to April 16 to allow for briefing and consideration of today's preliminary injunction motion.
In its motion for a preliminary injunction, Maryland is asking the court to bar Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from constructing, retrofitting, or operating the Williamsport Warehouse as an immigration detention facility while this litigation remains ongoing.
On February 23, 2026, Attorney General Brown filed a lawsuit against DHS and ICE challenging the purchase and planned conversion of a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland in violation of federal administrative and environmental law.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Files-Motion-for-Preliminary-Injunction-to-Halt-Construction-and-Operation-of-Unlawful-ICE-Detention.aspx
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Challenges Utility Rate Mechanism That Could Guarantee Higher Bills
PHOENIX, Arizona, March 20 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Challenges Utility Rate Mechanism That Could Guarantee Higher Bills
Attorney General Kris Mayes today filed an Application for Rehearing challenging a recent Arizona Corporation Commission decision that approved a new rate-setting mechanism for UNS Gas, Inc. that could lock in automatic annual rate increases for the company's ratepayers with little meaningful oversight.
The filing argues that the Annual Rate Adjustment Mechanism (ARAM) approved
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PHOENIX, Arizona, March 20 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Challenges Utility Rate Mechanism That Could Guarantee Higher Bills
Attorney General Kris Mayes today filed an Application for Rehearing challenging a recent Arizona Corporation Commission decision that approved a new rate-setting mechanism for UNS Gas, Inc. that could lock in automatic annual rate increases for the company's ratepayers with little meaningful oversight.
The filing argues that the Annual Rate Adjustment Mechanism (ARAM) approvedin Commission Decision No. 81653 imposes unjust and unreasonable rates by shifting financial risk from UNS Gas shareholders to ratepayers and essentially guaranteeing that the company will earn its authorized rate of return regardless of how efficiently it operates.
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"Arizonans deserve utility rates that are fair and transparent, not a rubber stamp process designed to increase rates automatically," said Attorney General Mayes. "This mechanism strips ratepayers of the due process protections they're entitled to under the Arizona Constitution."
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The filing also argues the ARAM's streamlined annual review process -- which gives parties just a few months to challenge rate increases with limited discovery and no witness testimony from the company -- fails to provide constitutionally required due process.
AG Mayes is asking the Commission to rehear the decision and issue an amended order consistent with Arizona's constitutional requirements.
A copy of the filing is available (https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=69b44c88ce&e=9153ff6c96).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-challenges-utility-rate-mechanism-could-guarantee-higher-bills
Alaska A.G. Cox Settles With Southeast Jewelry Store Over Fake Gold Quartz and Gold Nuggets
JUNEAU, Alaska, March 20 -- Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Cox settles with Southeast Jewelry Store over Fake Gold Quartz and Gold Nuggets
(Ketchikan, AK) - Today, Attorney General Cox announced the settlement of the State's consumer-protection lawsuit against Soni Inc., a jewelry retail business which currently does business in Ketchikan under the name "Flawless Fine Jewelry," and one of its corporate officers, Sunita Lakhwani.
In 2023, Soni Inc. sold man-made facsimiles of naturally occurring gold quartz and
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JUNEAU, Alaska, March 20 -- Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Cox settles with Southeast Jewelry Store over Fake Gold Quartz and Gold Nuggets
(Ketchikan, AK) - Today, Attorney General Cox announced the settlement of the State's consumer-protection lawsuit against Soni Inc., a jewelry retail business which currently does business in Ketchikan under the name "Flawless Fine Jewelry," and one of its corporate officers, Sunita Lakhwani.
In 2023, Soni Inc. sold man-made facsimiles of naturally occurring gold quartz andgold nuggets to undercover investigators. Soni Inc.'s employees stated that these objects had been mined in Alaska and included 24 karat pure gold. Some employees claimed that Soni Inc. made the jewelry in Alaska. In fact, Soni Inc. had obtained these objects from a California company called TT Jewelry. The "gold nuggets" sold to investigators were low-purity 14 karat gold shaped to resemble a gold nugget, and the objects sold to investigators as Alaskan "gold quartz" were pieces of quartz which had been infused with a low-purity alloy of gold, or in one case, contained no gold whatsoever.
"Alaska is known around the world for its gold--our mines, our mineral deposits, the history behind them," said Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox. "When a business tells visitors that gold was mined here, people believe it. If that's not true, it's taking advantage of visitors--and trading on Alaska's name in the process. Enforcing our consumer protection laws here protects tourists, and it backs up the many honest Alaska businesses that are doing it right."
Under this settlement, the defendants will pay a total of $60,000 in disgorgement to the State and restitution to four individuals the State's investigation identified as victims of misrepresentations. Additionally, the settlement empowers the state's investigators to do on-the-spot audits to verify any future representations by Soni Inc. that the products it sells are made in Alaska or "Alaskan" or that gold quartz or gold nuggets it sells are natural.
* SOA v. Soni Inc. et al. - Consent Judgment (https://law.alaska.gov/pdf/press/260319-ConsentJudgment.pdf)
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Original text here: https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2026/031926-Flawless.html
A.G. Jackley Commends S.D. Supreme Court Decision Affirming Inmate Conviction on Assault of DOC Staff Member
PIERRE, South Dakota, March 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Commends SD Supreme Court Decision Affirming Inmate Conviction on Assault of DOC Staff Member
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of Kelly D. Warfield for simple assault against a Department of Corrections correctional officer and intentional damage to property, stemming from a 2021 incident at the Mike Durfee State Prison.
"The South Dakota Department
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PIERRE, South Dakota, March 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on March 19, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Commends SD Supreme Court Decision Affirming Inmate Conviction on Assault of DOC Staff Member
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of Kelly D. Warfield for simple assault against a Department of Corrections correctional officer and intentional damage to property, stemming from a 2021 incident at the Mike Durfee State Prison.
"The South Dakota Departmentof Corrections and our correctional officers work hard every day to maintain safety inside our facilities," said Attorney General Jackley. "We appreciate the Supreme Court's careful review and its affirmation of the convictions, which supports the lawful actions of the officers involved and upholds accountability for violent conduct within our prisons."
Warfield, who was serving prior felony sentences, damaged prison property and assaulted a correctional officer after officers attempted to confiscate a television missing required security stickers. The incident was captured on prison surveillance cameras and corroborated by testimony from multiple correctional officers.
In its decision, the Supreme Court rejected all five issues raised on appeal, including challenges related to charging decisions, admission of video evidence, denial of a self defense instruction, access to surveillance footage, and alleged double jeopardy concerns. The Court concluded that the State acted within its discretion, that Warfield had waived or failed to support certain objections, and that the evidence did not support a theory of self defense.
The opinion details that Warfield struck and damaged a computer monitor and wall mounted television before engaging in a physical altercation with a correctional officer in the day hall area. Officers testified consistently about the assault, and video footage--despite a brief four second skip caused by a known bandwidth issue--showed Warfield advancing on and punching the officer.
The Court held that the missing video segment did not constitute a due process violation because there was no evidence the lost footage had exculpatory value or that comparable evidence could not be obtained.
The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General's Office represented the state in the appeal.
Click here for the decision: https://ujs.sd.gov/media/0tgi4jcm/30929.pdf
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3037
