Taking Fagan Files to the Attorney General

I filed a complaint with the AG to untangle the web of conflicts of interest around that fishy $500,000 donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (Photo courtesy The Oregonian/OregonLive)

If you’ve grown tired of my complaints about the investigation into the fishy $500,000 from an associate of alleged crypto-fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried just before the 2022 election, I have good news!

Today, I complained to someone who can and should actually do something about it! I filed a complaint with Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum asking her to initiate an investigation into the donation on account of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s well-documented (here at least) conflict of interest.

According to Oregon law, when the Secretary of State is supported by a political committee she is supposed to investigate, the AG is supposed to investigate instead. Here, things get even trickier because Attorney General Rosenblum is also an elected Democrat and is supported by the Democratic Party of Oregon. She has given the DPO over $119,000 since she first ran for AG back in 2012.

Because of THAT conflict, the most reasonable and lawful way to give Oregonians the full and fair investigation into this matter they deserve, and that Oregon law requires, is for Rosenblum to refer the investigation to Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson. Clarkson is not supported by the DPO and Rosenblum is allowed to refer this matter to her under Oregon law.

Here’s a link to the entire letter in which I walk through the legal reasoning resulting in that conclusion. If you like statutory references and the word “forthwith,” you may find it interesting.

I will keep you updated.

Rest in Peace Les Stiles

There is no way to perform a graceful segue here, so I won’t try.

Sadly, former Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles passed away recently. Les was, as more than a few of my readers know well, more than a sheriff. He was a thoughtful, curious and generous leader for Central Oregon. He dedicated his life to serving his community in law enforcement. It’s said that someone “serves” in law enforcement; Les really and truly served. For him, law enforcement was not only a career, but an opportunity to improve the lives of the people around him.

Les was a subscriber to the Oregon Roundup from very early on. I would often receive emails from him about how something I wrote related to something he’d been thinking about, or had experience with. His insights were always thought-provoking. I will very much miss receiving them.

RIP, Les.

There will be a Celebration of Life and (appropriately) Service for Les on March 4 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. It is open to the public. Details here: