Ethics

Oregon Union Faces Ethics Complaint: GOP Lawmakers Accuse SEIU of Manipulating Lobbying Tactics

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Salem, Oregon — A group of eight Republican lawmakers has raised concerns that a powerful union in Oregon may have violated state lobbying laws during the recent legislative session. The accusations center around the Oregon chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents over 70,000 workers across the state. Last month, the lawmakers submitted a formal complaint to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, alleging that SEIU provided misleading information in letters sent to legislators in late April. These letters aimed to garner support for a bill that sought to establish a board responsible … Read more

Attorney for Karen Read Challenges Prosecutor’s Ethics Following Verdict Exonerating Client

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BOSTON — Karen Read’s lead attorney has accused a special prosecutor of violating ethical standards following a jury’s verdict that acquitted Read of murder charges in connection with the death of her boyfriend, a Boston police officer. Attorney Alan Jackson asserted that prosecutor Hank Brennan’s comments attacking the jury’s decision were inappropriate and unprofessional. Read was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter last week for her role in the death of Officer John O’Keefe, which occurred in 2022. After a five-day silence regarding the verdict, Brennan expressed disappointment, asserting that there was “only … Read more

Louisiana Ethics Board to Live Stream Public Meetings Amid Lawmaker Concerns Over Transparency

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BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Board of Ethics has decided to broadcast its public meetings online, a move prompted by complaints from lawmakers seeking greater transparency in government operations. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility for citizens, ensuring they can participate and engage with discussions surrounding ethics in the public sector. The decision follows feedback from members of the Legislature who expressed concerns regarding the limited public engagement at board meetings, which have traditionally been held behind closed doors. Lawmakers advocated for a solution that would allow the public easier access to the proceedings, … Read more

Trump Takes Aim at Watergate-Era Ethics Laws, Sparking Controversial Shift in Governance

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Former President Donald Trump has expressed significant criticism of the Watergate-era laws that established basic ethical standards for government officials. Speaking at a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump pushed for a profound overhaul of these regulations, framing them as outdated and obstructive to governance. During his speech, Trump argued that many of the laws, designed to promote accountability and transparency, inhibit the ability of elected officials to work effectively. He contended that such regulations are misused to target political opponents, suggesting that a culture of overregulation is harming the nation’s political climate. This shift … Read more