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‘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: 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.
Kotek demands ethics investigation following Shemia Fagan revelations; Fagan says she welcomes the inquiries
Top Republicans called for Fagan’s resignation, and leading Democrats cited major concerns in the wake of the Secretary of State’s decision to moonlight for a cannabis company amid an audit into the industry.
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan pledged to build trust in Oregon government. Now, she won’t talk about paid pot side job
On the campaign trail in 2020, Democratic secretary of state candidate Shemia Fagan promised voters she would bring a focus on integrity and accountability to the job.