Lure of Direct Impact Draws Members of Congress into Attorney General Roles
State attorneys general have often sought other political offices after their service as chief legal officer of their state. Lately, incumbent and former members of Congress have decided to run for state attorney general instead. There’s a long-standing joke that “AG” doesn’t just stand for attorney general but for “aspiring governor” as well. At present…
Attorneys General Continue Fight Against Hate with Presidential Summit
Attorneys General Continue Fight Against Hate with Presidential Summit At the end of this month, attorneys general from around the country will gather in the District of Columbia for the 2021 NAAG Presidential Summit. This year’s theme, the People v. Hate: Standing Up for Humanity, is focused on bringing together attorneys general from all political…
Significant Political and Legal Developments This Year for U.S. Territories
The United States’ territories and the District of Columbia are seeing some of the most significant political and legal movement they have experienced in years in several areas, including national reexamination of the Insular Cases, pushes for statehood, citizenship issues, and ongoing litigation about equitable federal benefits in the territories. Reexamination of the Insular Cases…
Recent Congressional Action on Substance Use and What to Expect this Year
On Capitol Hill, there has been a flurry of activity on legislation related to expanding access to medication for opioid use disorder treatment, extending the classification of illicit fentanyl analogues as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), and removing barriers to financial services for cannabis-related businesses. As the 117th Congress continues, below is…
Walter Mondale: Remembering the 42nd U.S. Vice President and 23rd Minnesota Attorney General
On April 19, Walter Mondale passed away at the age of 93. Prior to serving as President Carter’s vice president, President Clinton’s ambassador to Japan, and a U.S. senator from Minnesota for twelve years, Mondale’s first foray into public office came in 1960 when he was appointed Minnesota attorney general. Just two years later, he…
Attorneys General Lead National Discussion with Congress on State Responses to Domestic Terrorism
Following the events of January 6th at the U.S. Capitol and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s March 2021 report warning that domestic violent extremists pose an elevated threat this year, it was no surprise that the House Homeland Security Committee’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee’s first hearing of the 117th Congress was focused…
Antisemitism in America and Its Recent Resurgence
In a year that began with Congress being assaulted by a group that included individuals wearing “Camp Auschwitz” shirts and displaying symbols of hate, it is clear that hate and antisemitism is alive and well in the United States. To help address the rise of domestic antisemitic and hate incidents, NAAG President and District of…
From Burr to Harris: AG to VP
What does Kamala Harris have in common with Aaron Burr and Martin Van Buren? All three served as state attorney general before becoming U.S. Senator and then Vice President of the United States. In fact, this is the same path to the Vice Presidency that 10% of all Vice Presidents have followed since Aaron Burr’s…
