ethics

An investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission into the former CEO of a social services nonprofit serving Josephine and Douglas Counties was dismissed on Friday.

The federal grand jury indictment accuses Williamson and four other co-conspirators, including Becerra’s former chief of staff, of funneling $225,000 in money from a dormant campaign account. Williamson is also accused of falsely claiming more than $1.7 million in fraudulent business expenses on her taxes, for a $15,000 Chanel bag, a chartered jet and a nearly $170,000 birthday trip to Mexico.

The court of appeals said 21 of 23 quotes in an opening brief were fake. State authorities are scrambling to grapple with widespread use of artificial intelligence.

Republican Rep. Dwayne Yunker received at least two complaints against him alleging misconduct, retaliation.

Four people were investigated for potentially violating Oregon Public Meetings Law.

A former commissioner in Josephine County successfully got an ethics complaint about an alleged conflict of interest dismissed by the state.

The former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission had agreed to the deal, but ethics commissioners said the negotiated fine is not stiff enough.

“I know my actions were indefensible,” she told the state ethics commission.

State lawmakers have introduced at least a dozen proposals that would make it harder to confront local officials at public meetings, shield more information from the public and relax rules on financial reports.

Political committees now have state regulators’ OK to create an unlimited number of affiliated committees with different leaders, and then closely coordinate fundraising and candidate donations among them.

Four board members of Klamath County Fire District 3 are being investigated by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for potentially violating Oregon Public Meetings Law.

Watchdog groups are calling for the state to require more transparency from lobbyists who work for both fossil fuel companies and governments and environmental groups fighting against climate change.