Celgene accused of Medicaid fraud, misrepresenting cancer drugs, kickbacks to doctors

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson recovered nearly $750,000 in Medicaid reimbursement this week from pharmaceutical company Celgene Corporation for promoting medications to treat conditions they were not approved for, including certain types of cancer. The company is also accused of paying kickbacks to doctors for prescribing the medications and helping them change billing codes to ensure Medicaid would pay for their use.

Rule designed to prevent disasters like 2010 Tesoro refinery explosion

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today asked a federal court to review the Trump Administration’s nearly two-year delay of the Chemical Disaster Rule, which updates important safety requirements for large industrial facilities that handle hazardous chemicals.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today called on President Donald Trump to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

“Coming out of the shadows through the DACA program allowed these Dreamers to buy homes, get an education, and report crimes to police without fear of deportation,” Ferguson said. “All of that makes our communities stronger and better places to live. I’m prepared to support efforts to defend DACA by all appropriate means, including court action.”

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office today announced a lawsuit against a Seattle-based company offering campaign and non-profit fundraising services, alleging Blue Utopia failed to send all the donations it collected to its clients, and used new donations to cover old debts to other campaigns. The lawsuit alleges these are unfair and deceptive practices in violation of state law. The office has identified at least two affected campaigns in Washington so far.

Court won’t block Hawaii judge’s expansion of qualifying family members

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson’s ruling expanding “close familial relationships” exempted from the administration’s travel ban executive order.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today joined a coalition of states asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the Trump Administration’s effort to bar travel by certain close family members of people in the United States.

The Center failed to properly report its independent expenditures in opposition to Initiative 1366 in 2015.

OLYMPIA —The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court today alleging campaign finance violations by the Kittitas County Democrats. Specifically, the AGO asserts the committee failed to timely report a total of $18,639 in contributions and $16,277 in expenditures in 2012 and between 2014 and 2017.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson recused himself from any involvement in the matter.

YAKIMA — Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit are in Yakima County this week, fighting to prevent a dangerous sex offender from being conditionally released into the community.

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court today alleging campaign finance violations by Service Employees International Union Leadership Council 14, also known as SEIU Washington State Council.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson recused himself from any involvement in the matter.