Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Settles Ethics Violations
Former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan took a pivotal step toward moving past a scandal that marred her political career by settling three cases with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission on May 9. The commission found Fagan had breached several ethics rules during her time in office, particularly for a $10,000 monthly consulting contract with La Mota, a cannabis business in distress.
At a somber meeting in Salem, Fagan, accompanied by her attorney, expressed remorse but denied the most serious allegation: that she had leveraged her position for personal gain. After initially proposing a $1,600 fine, the commission rejected the settlement, instead agreeing upon a $3,600 penalty after further discussions. Commissioners expressed that the fine felt insufficient, with one stating that it didn’t seem adequate for the violations.
Fagan’s scandals began unraveling in early 2023 when reports revealed her ties to prominent political donors involved in the cannabis industry, coinciding with official audits of their operations. As scrutiny increased, she resigned under mounting pressure just five days after the consulting contract was exposed.
This settlement marks a significant development, as it resolves not only her ethics cases but follows the closure of a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice without charges. Although Fagan recently resumed her legal career after being reinstated by the Oregon State Bar, two inquiries of her actions remain unresolved, including a campaign finance investigation.
Despite the fall from grace, Fagan has registered a new nonprofit initiative, "Beyond 13 Hoops," representing a potential shift in focus as she contemplates her future, though she has yet to address remaining campaign funds initially promised to charity. The prevailing sentiment remains that her once-promising political trajectory has been irrevocably altered.
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