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Attorney general declines to comment on open investigations; addresses DCYF audit, gender-care litigation and a GOP chair's lawsuit
Summary
Reporters pressed the Washington attorney general on DCYF audit findings, an investigation involving Urban League organizations, gender-affirming care litigation and a lawsuit filed by Jim Walsh; the attorney general said the state auditor is investigating DCYF, declined to discuss open probes, and described the lawsuit as politically motivated.
Reporters used a leadership media availability to press the Washington attorney general on several high-profile inquiries and recent litigation.
On the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), a reporter summarized audit coverage alleging $500,000,000 in two programs lacked adequate controls and $2,000,000 in overpayments. The attorney general said the state auditor is conducting audits and that the AG's office will work with client agencies to address audit findings, while distinguishing audit findings about controls from allegations of criminal fraud.
Asked whether fraud complaints had landed at the attorney general's office, the attorney general said the office has received dozens of allegations related to coverage in the news, described many as "pretty baseless," but said the office takes allegations seriously and routes intake through established channels.
On an investigation tied to reporting by The Center Square about the Tacoma and Seattle Urban League and a whistleblower, the attorney general declined to provide details, saying the office does not comment on ongoing investigations but that the consumer protection division prosecutes charities when there is abuse of charitable funds.
Regarding litigation over gender-affirming care, the attorney general pointed reporters to the office's website, saying court filings and case documents are publicly available; the attorney general acknowledged hospitals face pressure from federal threats but said decisions about scope of care are made by individual providers.
When asked about a lawsuit filed by Jim Walsh, identified in the briefing as the state GOP chair in Thurston County, alleging that information was deleted from state websites, the attorney general called the filing a political document and said the office would respond through the court process.
On an unrelated ethics question, the attorney general said several bar and ethics complaints filed against the office or staff have been dismissed and that any appeals will be handled through the bar process.
