Ethics in Government

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, has been consulting since February for a cannabis company with strong political ties to elected Democrats — and large sums of unpaid taxes.

Records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show the performance audit was all but finalized by the time Fagan pulled out of the audit.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office audited cannabis regulation as the agency’s head worked as a paid consultant in the industry.

Drama surrounding the secretary of state's role with a private cannabis company overshadowed a report about how the state is handling pot businesses.

Justice Clarence Thomas might be the most egregious when it comes to taking gifts and not disclosing them, but he’s not alone. His colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court also haven’t been shy about taking fancy freebies from rich people — many of whom have an interest in the actions of the court. The justices […]