Marijuana Money in Oregon Politics

Sworn declarations of Aaron Mitchell and Rosa Cazares say the cannabis couple communicated with Hoyle's office about federal agency filings as recently as September 2023

A Justice Department subpoena indicates that feds may be looking at Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR) and her efforts to help a large cannabis company.

Hoyle may have accepted and unlawfully retained cash contributions from La Mota founders, adding to her growing list of first-term scandals.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously Friday to investigate former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s travel.

Gov. Tina Kotek has previously denied the claim that she fired former OLCC Director Steve Marks earlier this year at the behest of a controversial cannabis entrepreneur.

State ethics watchdogs have launched a full investigation into former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s conduct while in office.

Fagan, once a rising star in Oregon Democratic politics, has said she broke the public’s trust in taking the $10,000-a-month consulting contract.

State attorneys produced objections, but no documents, by the June 21 deadline for five federal grand jury subpoenas requesting state documents relating to La Mota and Shemia Fagan.

The owners of the marijuana business that hired Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan to do consulting work made significant campaign contributions to the secretary – and other Democratic candidat…

Congresswoman Val Hoyle's campaign reported it received seven separate donations from the cash-friendly owners of La Mota on the same day in 2022. If made in cash, that's a problem for Hoyle.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a wide range of records related to former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and her marijuana moonlighting.

The Oregonian/OregonLive found tens of thousands in unexplained spending by the former secretary of state.

Federal authorities are seeking records related to Fagan from across multiple state agencies, according to a source.

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.

Kotek has faced pressure to appoint a "caretaker" secretary to replace Shemia Fagan. Some Democratic allies oppose that idea.

Fagan resigned May 8 amid a controversy over a $10,000 a month side gig she took consulting with a cannabis company.

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 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.

Shemia Fagan leaves office Monday, six days after she announced her resignation following news of a side job with a troubled cannabis dispensary.

“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.

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.

“Great feedback!” Secretary of State Shemia Fagan emailed Rosa Cazares. “Thanks Rosa.”

Fagan logged five out-of-state trips in the last six months. When in Oregon, she typically logged out of work by 2:30 p.m., the calendars suggest.

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.

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.

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.