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No apologies from AG over corporate donations

By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is featured in a New York Times story about the close relationships between attorneys general nationwide and corporate lobbyists.
But in an interview with KIRO 7, Ferguson said that doesn't interfere with his duties to the people of Washington state.
The article focuses on his relationship with the makers of the 5-Hour Energy drink.
“I asked them for money the same way I asked a lot of folks for money,” Ferguson told
He acknowledges he asked ETC-Capital for a $1,000 campaign donation, not realizing, he says, that it's an investor in 5-Hour Energy, a company his office was investigating.
“That came up after I actually filed a lawsuit against 5-Hour Energy. They were unhappy about that lawsuit so I returned the contribution to them at that time,” Ferguson said.

“I thought it was pretty disgusting,” said campaign finance reformer Alice Woldt of the group Fix Democracy First.

Woldt decries the close relationships between corporate lobbyists and politicians.
“I think what's at risk is public policy and the common good," she said
The Times article also points out the close contact between Bellevue based T-Mobile and Ferguson on regulating the competition for the wireless airways.
“If (corporations have) special access, ask T-Mobile,” Ferguson said. “I sued ‘em last year. Big lawsuit.”
Ferguson points out he was targeted by a Karl Rove political group when he ran for election in 2012, so he’s already raising money for 2016.

“Is (money) necessary for me to run for a high-profile office like attorney general? You bet. Am I going to apologize for that? No."

KIRO

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