Latest news with #OfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington attorney general goes before 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on birthright citizenship
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown was back in a Seattle courtroom Wednesday on birthright citizenship. Arguments were heard before a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. At issue was a nationwide preliminary injunction issued in February blocking President Donald Trump's executive order, which sought to change birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment. The debate was whether to make the preliminary injunction permanent or overturn a lower court's ruling. The executive order would disqualify those born in this country to illegal immigrants from becoming birthright citizens. WA AG says Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional In court, Washington's Office of the Attorney General argued the executive order is clearly unconstitutional and the preliminary injunction should be made permanent. 'We're talking about overturning the fundamental understanding of what it means to be an American in this country, and what it has meant since the 14th Amendment,' Brown said. Department of Justice lawyers argued birthright citizenship doesn't apply to undocumented immigrants' children born here, or those in the country on work or student visas. 'We're seeing some radical ideas take root at the highest level of government. And so it is more important than ever the attorneys general are standing united to fight against the unlawfulness of this president,' Brown said There is no word on when a decision will be handed down. The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule on procedural questions, and that could affect the timing. Follow James Lynch on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana Attorney General hosted office hours at public library
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)—Representatives with the Office of the Attorney General came to the Vigo County Public Library Tuesday. Representatives were available to constituents to answer questions on topics like scams, robocalls, unclaimed property, and recalls. There were also copies of the Attorney General's publications, such as the Parents' Bill of Rights and the Gun Owners' Bill of Rights, available. The Indiana Attorney General is responsible for providing legal representation to the state as well as protecting consumers from illicit business practices, investigating, and prosecuting Medicaid fraud. The release from the Attorney General's Office claims that the Attorney General reunites Hoosiers with approximately $1,000,000 each week. The mobile office hours took place at the Vigo County Public Library's Main Branch on Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For those who couldn't attend but wanted to speak with representatives can reach Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office at 317-232-6201. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Michigan's Attorney General Says Secretary of State Violated Campaign Finance Act
Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel said the state's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been found to have violated the Campaign Finance Act, but will face no penalty due to a quirk in the statute. Both Benson and Nessel are Democrats. A May 19 The advisory stated that Benson's use of the lobby of the Richard H. Austin Building was for a partisan political purpose, in violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance The Michigan Department of State, which usually has jurisdiction over such matters, referred the complaints to the Office of the Attorney General for independent review, as required by state law. The Office of the Attorney General's May 19 notice of violation Related Stories 1/22/2025 11/7/2023 The letter stated that the policy is spelled out in the Administrative Guide to State Government and that the Department of State 'recognizes' Benson's action as a violation of Michigan law. Benson's Defense The Jocelyn Benson for Governor campaign committee said Benson's use of the lobby was not a violation. According to the attorney general's notice letter, the committee said that Benson was not acting in her professional capacity as secretary of state but was there in her capacity as a candidate for governor on her own 'personal time,' expressing her own 'personal views.' The attorney general's letter stated that Benson, wearing office attire, invited reporters to a press conference inside the building that houses her professional office on a workday morning. 'She gave no indication that would lead a reasonable person viewing the press conference to believe that she was there on her 'personal time,' the letter said. According to the letter, Benson said at the press conference that she invited the media to come inside due to sub-zero temperatures and double-digit wind speeds that morning. Benson also said she believed that other candidates could use the lobby provided, and any candidate or committee has an equal opportunity to do so. The attorney general's letter stated that Benson's belief was 'misplaced' in light of the specific prohibition of partisan events inside the Austin Building imposed by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, which operates the building. The department does allow such events to be held outdoors, according to the letter. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks during a news conference in Lansing, Mich., on March 5, 2020. David Eggert/AP Photo According to the letter, Benson's campaign committee also said that she had a right under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to hold the press conference in the lobby and that the prohibition served no legitimate purpose because it did not interfere with government activities. The AG's office said the committee's First Amendment argument is 'unpersuasive.' 'Prohibiting candidates from conducting press conferences and other partisan political activities in a government office building' has a reasonable purpose. It prevents interference with 'entering, exiting, moving throughout, and conducting business in the building,' the letter said. No Fine Levied Nessel said in the letter that her office lacked the legal authority to penalize the secretary of state for the violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA). Under the MCFA, a violator could be assessed a civil fine of not more than $1,000. According to the letter, under the act, fining a violator is the statutory prerogative of the Department of State and not the Office of the Attorney General. 'The MCFA is completely silent as to how the attorney general is to resolve a complaint after determining that the secretary of state has violated the act. There is no provision allowing the attorney general to issue an order requiring a civil fine following a hearing,' the letter stated. 'Consequently, the attorney general is left with no choice but to simply identify the violation, remind the secretary of state of her obligations under MCFA, and warn her against violating them in the future.' It is unclear whether the Department of State would fine Benson based on the attorney general's findings. Neither Benson nor Nessel responded to a request for comment by publication time. Complainants Political activist Christian Charette, 22, of Livonia, Michigan, told The Epoch Times he learned of Benson's violation through media reports, documented her actions, and then filed a complaint. Charette, a public library employee, said he had been fined $175 for neglecting to print a disclaimer on a campaign-related business card. He said he was 'deeply disappointed' by the lack of penalty resulting from Nessel's investigation and is considering further legal action. He commended Nessel for at least 'acknowledging what we all knew: Benson broke the law.' 'The entirety of the American justice system relies on the notion that no one is above the law. When the notion is violated ... the people lose faith,' he said. Complainant Monica Ross-Williams told The Epoch Times that her experience as an elected public official in the Charter Township of Ypsilanti taught her about the requirements of Michigan's campaign finance laws. With that knowledge, she alleged that Benson's use of the lobby of the Austin Building created 'an unfair advantage' for herself in her bid for governor. Ross-Williams said her allegations were validated by the AG's finding and that Benson, the state's chief elections officer, must be subjected to the penalties prescribed in the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. 'All public officials should be held to account when they violate the law,' she said, adding that she plans to file a complaint against Benson with the State Board of Ethics. She said it is up to the state legislature to close the gaps in the statutes governing the assessment of penalties.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three plead guilty to $3.6M in Medicaid fraud, attorney general says
Three Marylanders pleaded guilty to more than $3.6 million in Medicaid fraud, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said Monday, outlining a scheme involving behavioral health companies. Between 2019 and 2024, the three individuals operated two companies to falsely bill for psychiatric rehabilitation program services, the Office of the Attorney General said in a news release Monday. The companies, Guiding Lives, Inc. and Another Chance Supportive Services, Inc., were located at 6305 Belair Road in Baltimore. Tasha S. Saunders, of Parkville, pleaded guilty in February to 'two counts of defrauding the Maryland Medicaid program of more than $3.6 million by billing for mental health services that were never provided,' the release said. Saunders was previously convicted for another Medicaid fraud scheme in 2021. In that case, she was sentenced to nine months of jail time, nine months of home detention and five years of supervised probation. In addition, she was also ordered to pay over $470,000 in restitution, according to the release. She was also barred from participating in federal health care programs in the future. In her previous guilty plea, Saunders admitted to stealing the identities of licensed counselors, faking patient files and making fraudulent Medicaid claims for psychiatric rehab services that were never provided. Despite the conviction, she continued the scheme, according to the release.. Robert Higgins pleaded guilty for his role in operating the two fraudulent behavioral health companies with Saunders. He agreed to pay back $341,900, according to the release. Tamyra Jordan, Saunders' daughter, pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of almost $300,000, the release says. Online court records show Higgins' guilty plea was in March, while Jordan's was earlier this month. Saunders orchestrated Guiding Lives from jail via Jordan and Higgins before creating Another Chance Supportive Services in 2022, the release says. 'Jordan and Higgins forged signatures[,] created fake patient records and stole the identities of both providers and recipients to submit false claims,' the release says . When Saunders formed Another Chance, she hid her ownership by using others' stolen personal information, it says. For violating her probation, Saunders was sentenced to three and half years of incarceration, the release says. Higgins and Saunders will be sentenced in July; Jordan's sentencing is in November. Jordan's attorney, Peter S. O'Neill, declined to comment. Higgins' and Saunders' attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. _______
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three plead guilty to $3.6M in Medicaid fraud, attorney general says
Three Marylanders pleaded guilty to more than $3.6 million in Medicaid fraud, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said Monday, outlining a scheme involving behavioral health companies. Between 2019 and 2024, the three individuals operated two companies to falsely bill for psychiatric rehabilitation program services, the Office of the Attorney General said in a news release Monday. The companies, Guiding Lives, Inc. and Another Chance Supportive Services, Inc., were located at 6305 Belair Road in Baltimore. Tasha S. Saunders, of Parkville, pleaded guilty in February to 'two counts of defrauding the Maryland Medicaid program of more than $3.6 million by billing for mental health services that were never provided,' the release said. Saunders was previously convicted for another Medicaid fraud scheme in 2021. In that case, she was sentenced to nine months of jail time, nine months of home detention and five years of supervised probation. In addition, she was also ordered to pay over $470,000 in restitution, according to the release. She was also barred from participating in federal health care programs in the future. In her previous guilty plea, Saunders admitted to stealing the identities of licensed counselors, faking patient files and making fraudulent Medicaid claims for psychiatric rehab services that were never provided. Despite the conviction, she continued the scheme, according to the release.. Robert Higgins pleaded guilty for his role in operating the two fraudulent behavioral health companies with Saunders. He agreed to pay back $341,900, according to the release. Tamyra Jordan, Saunders' daughter, pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of almost $300,000, the release says. Online court records show Higgins' guilty plea was in March, while Jordan's was earlier this month. Saunders orchestrated Guiding Lives from jail via Jordan and Higgins before creating Another Chance Supportive Services in 2022, the release says. 'Jordan and Higgins forged signatures[,] created fake patient records and stole the identities of both providers and recipients to submit false claims,' the release says . When Saunders formed Another Chance, she hid her ownership by using others' stolen personal information, it says. For violating her probation, Saunders was sentenced to three and half years of incarceration, the release says. Higgins and Saunders will be sentenced in July; Jordan's sentencing is in November. Jordan's attorney, Peter S. O'Neill, declined to comment. Higgins' and Saunders' attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. _______
