Federal criminal investigators examining former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s dealings with a cannabis company
Subpoenas show the U.S. Attorney's Office has demanded a wide range of documents from the state involving Fagan and the owners of the La Mota dispensary chain.
Oregon Investigates Crypto Exec’s Political Donation
A former executive at the disgraced cryptocurrency exchange FTX donated $500,000 to the state’s Democratic Party under a false name. Here are the events that led up to the misreported donation and Oregon’s response.
Editorial: Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s recusal offers too little, too late
Rosenblum recused herself from the investigation into disgraced cryptocurrency executive Nishad Singh, whose $500,000 donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon was falsely reported as coming from a Las Vegas company. Rosenblum should have ensured independence long ago, considering the cozy relationship she and former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan have had with the Democratic Party.
Marion County district attorney, not Secretary of State, should investigate Democrats’ $500,000 donation from FTX executive, complaint says
A Bend lawyer has asked Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to open a criminal investigation into whether the Democratic Party of Oregon knowingly reported false information about who gave a $500,000 campaign contribution.
Before Oregon elections officials slashed Democratic Party’s fine, state lawyer blasted party’s ‘lackluster’ efforts to find true source of $500K donation
The assistant attorney general representing the Elections Division wrote that a Democratic party official “should not have been — and any other reasonable person would not have been — satisfied when (donor Nishad Singh told the party) that Mr. Singh ‘prefers Prime Trust (though not strongly) so go w[ith] that.’”
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum recuses herself from investigation into FTX exec who gave $500,000 to Oregon Democrats
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Udland will oversee the department’s investigation into Nishad Singh, the former director of engineering at the disgraced cryptocurrency firm FTX.
My enduring image of Shemia Fagan is as state senator, with her fist held high, signaling her alignment with progressives holding a rally on the Oregon Capitol steps.
Oregon lawmakers may consider boosting elected officials’ pay, passing ethic reforms in wake of Shemia Fagan’s resignation
Oregon lawmakers are mulling whether to boost pay for statewide officeholders and pass ethics reforms following the resignation of former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, who stepped down after news that she had taken a $10,000 a month side job with a troubled cannabis company.
Timeline of Shemia Fagan’s effort to activate her Oregon law license before canceling her cannabis contract
“I have been inactive for the past two years but need to become active again,” Fagan wrote from her personal email address on Friday, Feb. 3, at 2:31 p.m.
‘OPB Politics Now’: The Rise and Fall of Shemia Fagan
Shemia Fagan was supposed to be the next Democratic star in Oregon politics, but now she's about to be out of office due to a spectacularly fast-moving scandal in Salem. Reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart talk about Fagan's rise to prominence and sudden resignation as Secretary of State.
Editorial: Secretary of State Shemia Fagan's good judgment after bad judgment
Imagine you are Oregon’s Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. A campaign donor in the pot industry offers you a job moonlighting to help them with business opportunities.
Editorial: Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan must resign
Shemia Fagan didn't make just one mistake in her dealings with La Mota cannabis chain owners Rosa Cazares and Aaron Mitchell, the editorial board writes. Her acknowledged "poor judgment" occurred repeatedly and reflects her prioritizing self interest over Oregon's. She must resign.
With Shemia Fagan out, speculation on Oregon’s next secretary of state is in full swing
Treasurer Tobias Read believes he could be a good fit, and former Senate President Peter Courtney says he'll fill in if asked. Informal conversations with Democratic politicos Tuesday turned up a wide range of names, including a trio of current or former Multnomah County officials: Jessica Vega Pederson, Deborah Kafoury and Susheela Jayapal.
Shemia Fagan was rising star in Oregon politics, until a side gig became her downfall
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan resigned her post as secretary of state just five days after a story in Willamette Week touched off an avalanche of reporting about her work as a consultant for an embattled cannabis company. It was an unlikely end for a politician who was considered a rising star and a potential future governor or U.S. senator.
Oregon secretary of state apologizes for accepting $10,000 per month from pot firm while auditing the industry
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has apologized for taking a job as a consultant for a marijuana company. The company is part of an industry that her office just audited. The Democrat is the state’s second-highest ranking official. She expressed her remorse in a Zoom conference Monday. She says she exercised poor judgment but has indicated she aims to hold onto her elected position. Republicans have called for her to resign. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has requested investigations by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and the Oregon Department of Justice. Fagan says she is terminating her contract with an affiliate of marijuana retail chain La Mota.