News Releases

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna is proud to announce that Senior Assistant Attorney General Michael Shinn has been selected for the 2007 Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management. The award gives special recognition to managers who have demonstrated excellence in carrying out their responsibilities.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng passed away at 9:11 p.m. last night at the Harborview Medical Center from cardiac arrest.  Here is a statement from Attorney General Rob McKenna on his passing.

Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that he has promoted Deputy Solicitor General Tim Ford to assistant attorney general for government accountability effective June 18. Ford will serve as the Attorney General’s open government ombudsman and will promote government accountability by encouraging access to public records and proceedings.

A group of telemarketers have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their “debt elimination program” violated federal and state laws by falsely promising consumers substantially reduced interest rates and thousands of dollars in savings. Under the proposed settlement, two business owners are permanently barred from engaging in any debt negotiation or debt elimination business. According to a complaint filed by the FTC and the Washington State Attorney General, the defendants made unsolicited phone calls to consumers nationwide and marketed the program on Internet Web sites, including www.debt2wealth.com and www.acceleratedfinancialinc.com.

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today he joined a coalition of state Attorneys General in a coordinated effort to examine legal issues related to school violence and safety. Responding to recent violence on college campuses and public schools, Attorney General Rob McKenna is working with his colleagues on the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Task Force on School Safety to identify legal and policy changes to help ensure safe schools.

OLYMPIA – A listserv account used by the Washington Attorney General’s Office to send news items was hijacked as part of a “phishing” scam. State agencies have resolved the problem to ensure further unauthorized e-mails are not sent.

OLYMPIA – Washington residents have a new way to protect themselves from identity thieves. Attorney General Rob McKenna said today’s signing of a preventative credit security freeze law,  which he pursued during the past two legislative sessions, is crucial in lowering the risk of unauthorized credit or bank accounts being opened. The law also helps shield existing victims from additional harm to their credit reports.

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna is proud to announce the Washington Coalition for Open Government has awarded its Key Award to Greg Overstreet, special assistant attorney general for government accountability for the Attorney General’s Office.

Olympia – Attorney General Rob McKenna will visit Stadium High School in Tacoma on Thursday, and Bremerton High School on Friday as part of the on-going schedule of school visits in his “Operation:  Allied Against Meth” campaign.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a $19.5 million multi-state settlement with Purdue Pharma. Washington will receive $719,500 from the agreement, which resolves allegations the company aggressively marketed its painkiller OxyContin to doctors while downplaying the risk of addiction.