The policy change was unanimously opposed by those members of the public who testified; critics say it’s a recipe for self-dealing.
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. for its governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in ethics complaints filed against those top officials.published Friday, Attorney General Treg Taylor approved a regulation allowing the legal defense on Thursday, and it was signed by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom’s staff on Friday afternoon. It takes effect Nov. 12.
Current policy allows the state to reimburse top officials for privately hired legal defense under certain circumstances, including in cases where the officials are exonerated. To receive legal representation from the state, the attorney general — an official appointed by the governor — must certify that it is in the public interest to defend against a complaint filed against the governor or lieutenant governor. In the case of a complaint filed against the attorney general, the governor must make that certification.
“I, frankly, am troubled by the proposal, because I don’t see how they can draw a line between what are frivolous complaints that maybe should have the attorney general helping out, and non-frivolous complaints when the attorney general really should not be involved,” said Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
If the official was exonerated, acted within the scope of their job, tallied reasonable expenses and the state had money to pay for the legal bill, the state could pick up the cost, Sullivan wrote.
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