Arkansas Attorney General Griffin celebrates appeals court decision in lawsuit over Biden-Harris pistol brace rule

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement regarding the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to reverse a lower court ruling denying a preliminary injunction in Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Inc. v. Garland:

“This is a victory for the rights of Americans and the rule of law as the Eighth Circuit concluded that our lawsuit is likely to succeed. This ruling brings us one step closer to stopping this unconstitutional rule.

“This is yet another attempt to rewrite the laws Congress has passed. The new rule defines a pistol with a stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle, thus increasing federal regulation and putting Americans at risk of fines, forfeiture, and felony conviction. I will continue to fight for the 2nd Amendment rights of Arkansans and against the arbitrary-and-capricious rules of the Biden-Harris administration.”

Arkansas is a member of a coalition of private entities and state attorneys general in the lawsuit. States include West Virginia, North Dakota, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

To read the order, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Pistol Brace - Indiana Responsible Gun Owners

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin leads 14-state amicus in support of Texas suit against Biden-Harris overtime rule

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after filing an amicus brief on behalf of himself and 13 other state attorneys general in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas supporting Texas’s motion for summary judgment in its suit against the U.S. Department of Labor and its rule regulating overtime pay for exempt employees:

“The rule is another example of the Biden-Harris administration trying to rewrite laws passed by Congress. The new rule drives up costs for private businesses and forces state governments to increase budgets—hitting Americans’ pocketbooks twice.

“Texas has already secured a preliminary injunction stopping this rule, and I am proud to lead this coalition of states in supporting our neighbor asking to vacate this latest effort by the Biden-Harris administration to go around Congress in an election-year giveaway.”

Federal law exempts workers with “executive, administrative, and professional” duties from receiving overtime pay. For decades, the Labor Department has used salary as one factor in deciding when that applies. The new rule requires employers to provide overtime pay to salaried professional, administrative, and executive employees who are already highly paid and were previously exempt from overtime requirements by conditioning overtime exemptions primarily on workers’ pay rather than their duties.

Griffin is joined in the amicus brief by the attorneys general of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

To read the brief, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Attorney General Griffin Hails Decision in Title IX case as a win for Arkansas women and girls

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement regarding the preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in Arkansas v. U.S. Department of Education halting the implementation of the Biden-Harris administration’s new rule interpreting Title IX:

“Today’s ruling is a victory for women and girls in Arkansas and across the nation as yet again a federal court has stopped the Biden-Harris administration from going around Congress to implement a ridiculous, nonsensical, and illegal election-year move.

“Congress enacted Title IX to protect and promote educational opportunities for women and girls. This preliminary injunction halts the administration’s plan to allow men into women’s and girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and showers. It stops the administration’s plan to allow males onto girls’ sports teams. It also protects teachers, administrators, and students from the threat of investigation or sanction for disagreeing with the gender ideology of the Biden-Harris White House. And it comes just in time before the start of the new school year.

“I congratulate Solicitor General Nicholas Bronni and Deputy Solicitor General Dylan Jacobs for their diligence that led to today’s victory.”

Griffin filed the suit on May 7 and was joined by the attorneys general of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and an Arkansas high-school athlete.

To read the order, click here.

To read the original lawsuit, click here.

Attorney general requests dismissal of Arkansas Abortion Amendment lawsuit

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

Attorney General Tim Griffin on Friday filed a motion asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Secretary of State John Thurston’s recent rejection of the proposed Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024.

Arkansans for Limited Government (AFLG), the ballot question committee supporting the proposed constitutional amendment, filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking the state Supreme Court to order Thurston to count the more than 101,000 signatures the group submitted in support of the measure on July 5.

The group also asked the court to expedite the case with a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction overruling Thurston’s decision not to count the signatures.

Attorney general requests dismissal of Arkansas Abortion Amendment lawsuit

Courtesy Photo/Facebook

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin

Attorney General Griffin applauds emergency stay halting President Biden's unlawful student debt cancellation plan

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals granting an emergency stay in the matter of Missouri v. Biden, again halting the Biden administration’s evolving attempt to cancel student debt:

“This is the latest blow to President Biden’s unlawful plans to cancel student loans without congressional approval. Our coalition won at the lower court last month, and we have continued to win in the Eighth Circuit. The President is disregarding the separation of powers in the Constitution and the fundamentals so clearly articulated in Schoolhouse Rock. I am grateful the courts continue to prevent President Biden from doing an end-run around Congress.”

Griffin is the co-lead in the lawsuit with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. They are joined in the suit by the attorneys general of Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

To read the order, click here.

Consumer Alert: Beware fraudulent callers claiming to be law enforcement officers

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement warning Arkansans about a common scam in which callers claim to be a law enforcement officer and demand payment to resolve an alleged criminal matter:

AG Tim Griffin

“I have received reports of an uptick in fraudulent phone calls to Arkansans involving scammers representing themselves as law enforcement officers. These unscrupulous individuals, whether live or in a pre-recorded message, employ common tactics: They claim that the person they have called has committed a criminal offense and pressure them into paying money under threat of being arrested. Or they offer a recently arrested individual the opportunity to enroll in a fake rehabilitation program.

“Any attempt to defraud consumers is disgusting, but preying on the trust Arkansans have in the law enforcement community is especially heinous. I encourage anyone who receives this type of call not to fall for the scam, hang up on the scammer, and report them to my office for investigation.”

Griffin advises consumers to follow these tips to help protect themselves against such fraudulent calls:

• Law enforcement agencies and their employees do not call asking people to send money for fees or fines using a wire transfer, a prepaid debit card or gift card.

• Bitcoin is never a legitimate form of payment.

• Don’t assume the caller is who you think it is, even if the Caller ID indicates it is Arkansas State Police or your local police department. Verify the caller’s validity by independently calling the listed number for the agency they represent and asking for that individual.

• If asked to meet, only go to the designated police station, and only agree to meet INSIDE the station.

• Do not give any personal information—Social Security number, bank information, driver’s license number, etc.—over the phone.

Scammers blast illegal robocalls to consumers using identical or nearly identical messaging and calling patterns. They use caller ID spoofing to mislead and defraud victims, use pre-recorded messages without prior consent of call recipients, and target phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry violating federal and state consumer protection laws.

Griffin invites consumers to go beyond merely reporting that a call is unwanted and provide information that can assist in identifying the entity that is perpetrating the fraudulent and ongoing calling activity, including the following: date, time of the call(s), calling number(s), and message or description of the call(s). A form to report this information is available on our website.

For more information or to file a Consumer Complaint, please contact the Office of Attorney General at (501) 682-2007 or oag@arkansasag.gov, or visit the website www.ArkansasAG.gov.

Attorney General Tim Griffin's Special Investigations Division and Law Enforcement partners arrest five for illegal gambling

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after five people were arrested in Bradley County on charges related to illegal gambling:

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“Agents in my Special Investigations Division worked with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren Police Department in a joint investigation of multiple illegal gambling operations in and near the city of Warren. The investigation led to the arrest of five individuals and the confiscation of nearly $40,000 in illegal funds.

“I have long said that my office serves as a resource for law enforcement agencies across Arkansas, so I am proud to see my Special Investigations team help shut down these operations and bring these criminals to justice. I appreciate Bradley County Sheriff Herschel Tillman and Warren Police Chief Shaun Hildreth for inviting us to be part of this investigation, and I congratulate them on their good work.”

After a months-long investigation during which probable cause was established that illegal gambling was taking place inside Que Lindo Michoacan in Warren and Spanky’s in Bradley County, warrants were executed at both locations Monday by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren Police Department, the Office of the Attorney General, Arkansas State Police, and the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force.

At Que Lindo Michoacan, Pablo Ceja, 32, of Warren was arrested and charged with one count of Keeping a Gambling House, a Class D felony, and one count of Gaming Devices-Prohibition, an unclassified misdemeanor. Authorities seized $15,000 and confiscated five electronic gambling machines.

At Spanky’s, Kaysie Miskell, 44, of Pine Bluff, Sandra Huntley, 41, of Kingsland, and Shony Penister, 36, of Warren, were all arrested and each charged with one count of Keeping a Gambling House. Keithron Gibbs, 39, of Warren, was arrested and charged with one count of Gaming Devices-Betting, a violation classified as neither a felony nor a misdemeanor. Authorities seized $24,150 and confiscated 41 electronic gambling machines.

Consumer Alert: Resources available to Arkansans affected by change healthcare cyberattack

Griffin: 'Because Change Healthcare has not yet provided notice to individuals, the safest course of action is for Arkansans to use some of the resources available such as free credit monitoring'

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement alerting Arkansans to the availability of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services after Change Healthcare’s February data breach:

“In March, I launched an investigation into the cyberattack against Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group, Inc., to determine whether Arkansans’ confidential medical and personal information was compromised and whether other laws were violated.

“Unfortunately, after publicly stating that the data breach could impact up to one-third of all Americans, Change Healthcare has not yet provided individual notice to consumers. The delay in notifying Arkansans affected by the breach is unacceptable, and I am issuing this alert regarding Change Healthcare’s public offer of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

"Because Change Healthcare has not yet provided notice to individuals, the safest course of action is for Arkansans to use some of the resources available such as free credit monitoring."

Change Healthcare is the nation’s biggest electronic data clearinghouse. Change Healthcare’s technological infrastructure is used by tens of thousands of providers, pharmacies, and insurers to verify insurance, confirm pre-authorization of procedures or services, exchange insurance claim data, and perform other administrative tasks essential to the delivery of health care.

Change Healthcare is offering all Arkansas residents who believe they may have been impacted free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years. The dedicated website and call center will not be able to provide details to individuals about whether their data was impacted, and Change Healthcare has not determined the actual number and identity of affected consumers. Griffin encourages Arkansans to use the following resources Change Healthcare has offered:

• For information on the breach, visit http://changecybersupport.com. 
   

• To enroll in credit monitoring, visit http://changecybersupport.com or call (888) 846-4705.
   

• For additional support from Change Healthcare, call (866) 262-5342. 

Griffin also encourages consumers to be aware of potential warning signs that someone is using their medical information. The signs include:

• A bill from their doctor for services that they did not receive;
   

• Errors in their Explanation of Benefits statements;
   

• A call from a debt collector about a medical debt that they do not owe;
   

• Medical debt collection notices on their credit report that they do not recognize;
   

• An unexpected notice from their health insurance company indicating they have reached their benefit limit;
   

• Denial of insurance coverage because their medical records show a pre-existing condition that they do not have.

Circuit court denies TikTok's motion to dismiss, deceptive trade practices lawsuit will continue in Union County

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after the Union County Circuit Court denied a motion by TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, to dismiss Griffin’s lawsuit against the social media platform:

“I applaud the court’s decision to allow our lawsuit against TikTok and ByteDance to proceed. This marks the third time this year that a lawsuit I have brought against a social media platform has cleared this important legal hurdle.

“TikTok argued that the court did not have personal jurisdiction over the defendants in this case, that our claims under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act should fail, and that the claims are preempted. The court rightfully rejected all three arguments.

“Arkansas is leading the way in holding social media platforms accountable for how they represent themselves to customers and the type of content and algorithms they contain. I will continue to stand up for Arkansans and ensure TikTok keeps our private information out of the hands of the Chinese government.”

To read a copy of the court’s decision, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Arkansas AG sues over landlord sexual harassment

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is suing two Jonesboro landlords over allegations they sexually harassed and assaulted their female tenants.

The landlords, Judy and Charles Warren, owned several properties in the city. Griffin says they violated the Arkansas Fair Housing Act

This law protects renters from discrimination; under the law, tenants cannot be discriminated against for race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Its language reflects the federal Fair Housing Act, a civil rights law signed by then-president Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

Arkansas AG sues over landlord sexual harassment

Ballot Integrity Alert: Attorney General Griffin reminds voters, canvassers of rules governing signature collection for ballot initiatives

BALLOT INTEGRITY ALERT: Attorney General Griffin Reminds Voters, Canvassers of Rules Governing Signature Collection for Ballot Initiatives

Griffin: ‘It is imperative that both voters and canvassers understand and adhere to Arkansas’s laws on the collection of signatures for ballot initiatives’

LITTLE ROCK – With the deadline for submittal of signatures on statewide ballot initiatives fast approaching, Attorney General Tim Griffin reissued guidance on the rules that govern the collection of signatures:

Flickr

“As the July 5 deadline for signature submission draws near, there will likely be many people across the state this week making a final push to collect signatures for various ballot measures. It is imperative that both voters and canvassers understand and adhere to Arkansas’s laws on the collection of signatures for ballot initiatives. This benefits all involved; it protects the signatures from being challenged legally and upholds faith in our democratic process.”

The law requires that canvassers:

• Be 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen, AND an Arkansas resident.

• Personally witness all signatures on the petition.

It is a felony for a canvasser to:

• Sign someone else’s name to a petition;

• Print someone else’s name, address, or birth date. If the signer requires assistance due to disability, a person other than the canvasser may print the signer’s name, address, birth date, and the date of signing. The person providing assistance must sign and print his or her own name in the margin of the petition;

• Ask for or obtain a signature when the canvasser knows that the person signing is not qualified to sign the petition;

• Pay someone to sign;

• Knowingly misrepresent the purpose and effect of the petition or the measure in order to persuade someone to sign; or

• Falsely swear to have witnessed all signatures on the petition page.

If you are approached by a canvasser, remember that:

• Only registered voters may sign a petition;

• All signatures must be in the signer’s own handwriting and must be given in the presence of the canvasser;

• Because petition parts are separated by county, signers should only sign petition parts for the county in which the signer is registered to vote;

• Arkansas law requires that a full and correct copy of the popular name, ballot title and text of the initiated or referred measure be attached to every petition at all times during a petition’s circulation. This is so potential signers may read the full text of what they are being asked to sign;

• The information a signer provides on a petition may be disclosed in response to a records request made under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

We have received reports of canvassers leaving petitions unattended in public places. What is the effect of someone signing an unattended petition?

• This is a canvasser violation only if (1) someone signs that petition while the canvasser isn't there and (2) the canvasser signs the affidavit in the bottom corner of the signature page. If both the foregoing happen, then two legal consequences occur: (1) people attacking the petition can argue that every signature page gathered by that canvasser be tossed out; and (2) the canvasser can be convicted of a felony for falsely swearing to have witnessed the signatures that occurred in his or her absence.

Regarding the collection of signatures on private property:

• Signature collectors should ensure that their ballot-related activities comply with any posted signs and are conducted with the consent of private property owners.

Any complaints or allegations of misconduct in the ballot-initiative process should be directed to the Election Integrity Unit, Office of the Attorney General, at (833) 995-8683.

Attorney General Griffin calls challengers' decision not to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of Arkansas's successful defense of legislative map 'a win for Arkansas'

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after the NAACP and ACLU declined to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the state’s landmark win before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment:

“Last year, the Eighth Circuit threw out a challenge to Arkansas’s legislative map and became the first federal court of appeals to make clear that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is not privately enforceable. The NAACP and ACLU’s decision not to ask the Supreme Court to review the Eighth Circuit’s ruling is a win for Arkansans as it ends that challenge, leaves Arkansas’s legislative map in place, and puts an end to similar meritless challenges in other states.

“For far too long special interests groups have used Section 2 to hijack redistricting decisions and dictate how states conduct elections. The Eighth Circuit’s decision put an end to that practice in Arkansas and six other states. It confirmed that decisions about how to enforce the Voting Rights Act should be made by elected officials, not special interest groups. And here, the Biden administration tellingly declined—when asked—to challenge Arkansas’s legislative map.

“It is important to remember that Arkansas’s redistricting process is handled primarily by three statewide constitutional officers who are answerable to Arkansas voters. I thank Solicitor General Nicholas Bronni and Senior Assistant Solicitor General Asher Steinberg for their excellent work on this case.”

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Arkansas Attorney General sues Temu, pharmacy benefit managers

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced two new lawsuits Monday and Tuesday. One suit targets two pharmacy benefit managers, companies he says financially profited from the opioid crisis. The other was against the online retail site Temu for allegedly using malware on customers.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Pharmacy benefit managers work as the middle men between pharmacists and health insurance companies. They negotiate for rebates with pharmaceutical companies.

Arkansas' suit is specifically against the companies Optum and Express Scripts. Both rake in billions of dollars each year in profit. Griffin says both groups profited from the opioid crisis “pill by pill and dollar by dollar.”

Arkansas Attorney General sues Temu, pharmacy benefit managers

Attorney General Tim Griffin sues pharmacy benefit managers for roles in Arkansas opioid epidemic

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today announced he has filed a lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Optum, Inc., and Express Scripts, Inc., and their subsidiaries for their roles as a cause of the opioid epidemic in Arkansas and issued the following statement:

“Pill by pill and dollar by dollar, PBMs enabled the opioid epidemic in Arkansas. Today, we begin the process of holding them accountable for their roles in a crisis that has ravaged our state—a crisis they helped cause, contributed to, and furthered.

“The PBMs benefited financially from the opioid crisis in Arkansas by negotiating favorable deals with opioid manufacturers while at the same time forgetting the interests of Arkansans who received prescriptions. Instead of protecting consumers by leveraging data to curb excessive prescriptions, PBMs focused on the financial incentives of manufacturer rebates to drive profits at the expense of people.”

Between 2006 and 2014, Arkansas was flooded with almost 1.5 billion units of addictive opioids. By 2016, Arkansas had the second-highest opioid prescription rate in the nation, with 114.6 opioids being dispersed for every 100 Arkansans—nearly twice the national average and enough to supply every man, woman, and child in Arkansas 78 opioid doses each.

The suit, filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court, alleges that the PBM defendants:

• Fueled the opioid epidemic in Arkansas by increasing opioid utilization by placing opioids on lower tiers of their formularies, controlling what less addictive pain treatments were available to patients, and falsely representing that their formularies were designed to be cost effective and achieve favorable health outcomes but instead were designed to maximize profits;

• Operated online retail pharmacies that dispensed billions of morphine milligram equivalents of opioids while failing to follow state and federal laws on controlled substances; and,

• Were aware of the opioid epidemic in Arkansas and failed to take any action.

Griffin is asking that PBMs be held accountable for creating a public nuisance through their actions, being negligent in their actions, and unjustly enriching themselves.

To read a copy of the lawsuit, click here.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin files motion to reconsider erroneous order in Arkansas's lawsuit challenging unlawful ATF rule

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after filing a motion for reconsideration in a lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ new unlawful rule expanding the definition of who must become a federally licensed firearms dealer:

“On May 1, I co-led a multistate lawsuit challenging the ATF’s rule that radically expanded the definition of who must be a federally licensed firearms dealer. I filed suit against the ATF because only Congress can make laws, and Congress has never passed into law the ATF’s dramatic new expansion of firearms dealer license requirements.

“Last week, a federal district court in Little Rock ordered our case to be transferred to a federal district court in Kansas. That order dismissed Arkansas from the case on the grounds that the state would financially benefit from the ATF rule. But that’s not the case, and the Little Rock court’s order only concluded otherwise by ignoring basic tax law. That’s why we’ve asked the Kansas court to reconsider and correct the Little Rock court’s flawed order.

“Moreover, in ordering our case’s immediate transfer, the Little Rock order also violated Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent requiring ‘district court clerks [to] … wait a reasonable period before transferring case files after a transfer order is entered.’ That precedent exists to ensure the Eighth Circuit can review and correct erroneous transfer orders before they become effective, yet the Little Rock order unlawfully short-circuited that process, depriving Arkansas of the opportunity to obtain reversal of the district court’s erroneous order.

“The ATF’s unlawful rule is yet another in a long line of federal overreaches by the Biden administration. This rule harms Arkansans, and Arkansas’s standing in the case should never have been in question. I look forward to continuing to defend the people of Arkansas—even if an erroneous ruling requires me to do so in Kansas.”

To read the brief in support of motion for reconsideration, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Attorney General Tim Griffin files lawsuit against Ticketmaster/Live Nation, joins U.S. Department of Justice and 29 other Attorney Generals

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today announced that he has joined the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of 29 other attorneys general in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., over its illegal monopoly of the live entertainment industry:

“Arkansans—whether they are concert goers, artists, or venue operators—are at the mercy of Live Nation and Ticketmaster when it comes to live entertainment. Live Nation’s monopoly dictates which artists play where, prevents venues from using other ticketing companies at the risk of losing access to artists, and milks fans with large service fees in a so-called marketplace where there is a paucity of choice. Live Nation is also in violation of Arkansas’s prohibition on monopolies and our state’s Unfair Practices Act.”

In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the DOJ and coalition states allege that Live Nation has:

• Harmed fans through higher fees and limited the amount of information fans have regarding the ultimate cost to see a show. Fans’ ticketing experience—from buying a ticket to showtime—is also worse than it would be if the industry were competitive.

• Maintained its monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and threats that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketer.

• Leveraged its extensive network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals, maintaining its promotions monopoly.

The DOJ and coalition states are asking the court to prohibit Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices; order Live Nation to divest its ownership of Ticketmaster; and order Live Nation to pay civil penalties for its violations of law.

Joining Griffin in the suit are the attorneys general from: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

To read the complaint, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

AG Griffin praises his office's investigators for leadership in arrest of Kansas man on federal child porn charge involving Arkansas child

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement on the involvement of his office in the arrest of Marcus Allen Abeyta, 31, of Emporia, Kansas, on one federal count of production of child pornography involving a minor residing in Arkansas:

“Bringing child pornographers to justice requires collaboration across multiple jurisdictions including, in this matter, federal, military, and state law enforcement. Abeyta is not a member of the military, but my office took the lead on this case because the victim is the child of parents stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.

“During our investigation, it was discovered that Abeyta is a suspect in numerous other criminal investigations involving child exploitation in other states. I thank my office’s Special Investigations Division for working closely with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on this matter.”

Abeyta was arrested on May 16 at his residence, and his cell phone was seized for digital forensic examination. The examination led to the identification of other minor victims in various parts of the country. HSI and Griffin’s office are still working through evidence to identify other potential victims.

Abeyta is currently being held in Kansas at the Butler County Jail awaiting transfer to Little Rock by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Arkansas Attorney General sends cease and desist letters to pro-choice organizations

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sent cease and desist letters to two companies that he says provide abortion pills through the mail. He accused both Aid Access and Choices Women's Medical Center of violating the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

“Abortions are prohibited in Arkansas… consequently abortion pills may not legally be shipped to Arkansas,” Griffin's letters to the two companies read.

He called both groups' business practices “false, deceptive and unconscionable.” Griffin threatened them with a $10,000 civil penalty for each violation and said he would take further action if this was not remedied in 14 days. Griffin said the companies are advertising in Arkansas. Jeff LeMaster a representative for the Attorney General said: "language on both of the companies' websites" is what concerns them. He wants both companies to assuage the AGS concerns in writing.

Arkansas Attorney General sends cease and desist letters to pro-choice organizations

Arkansas AG Tim Griffin says two organizations are shipping abortion pills to Arkansas and advertising in the state.

Attorney General Griffin announces cybersecurity summit in October

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Tuesday (May 21) that he will host a Cybersecurity Summit October 7-8, 2024, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock at no cost to attendees.

The summit will feature the Director of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, as the keynote speaker.

“While there will be plenty of Arkansas-specific concerns addressed, this much-needed summit will have national and international appeal as we bring in top experts in the field of cybersecurity. I am particularly thrilled that Jen Easterly, Director of CISA, will serve as our keynote speaker. I’ve known Jen for a long time, and there is no one in government more knowledgeable than her on the topic of cybersecurity,” Griffin said.

AG Griffin announces cybersecurity summit in October

Attorney General Tim Griffin announces $104,246 settlement with wireless carriers over deceptive and misleading advertising practices

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement announcing Arkansas will receive $104,246.46 as part of a $10.25 million, 50-jurisdiction settlement with AT&T, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless, and TracFone Wireless resolving state attorneys general investigations into the wireless carriers’ deceptive and misleading advertising practices:

“Cell phones are important to the daily lives of Arkansans, and it is imperative that wireless companies are straightforward and honest in their advertising practices. Consumer protection is a core mission of my office, and it remains one of my top priorities. I want to thank my Public Protection Division for its work on securing this settlement, especially Deputy Attorney General Chuck Harder and Assistant Attorney General Matthew Ford.”

In the settlement, Arkansas will receive $49,017.04 from T-Mobile USA, $30,125.14 from Verizon Wireless, and $25,104.28 from AT&T.

Under the terms of the settlement, wireless carriers will be required to:

• Ensure that all future advertisements and representations are truthful, accurate, and not misleading;

• Refer in marketing to “unlimited” mobile data plans only when such plans do not set any numerical limits on the quantity of data allowed during a billing cycle and clearly and conspicuously disclose any restrictions on data speed, as well as the triggers of such restrictions;

• Offer to pay for consumers to “switch” carriers only when they clearly and conspicuously disclose the type of fees and amounts that they will pay consumers, the form and schedule that such payment will take, and all material requirements that consumers must satisfy in order to qualify for and receive such payment;

• Offer wireless devices or services for “free” or similar terms only when they disclose clearly and conspicuously all material terms and conditions that the consumer must meet in order to receive the “free” devices or services;

• Make offers to lease wireless devices only when the company makes clear that the consumer will be entering into a lease agreement;

• Make representations that a consumer will save money by purchasing its products or services only when it has a reasonable basis to do so based on comparisons with the prices of comparable goods or services of other providers, or where any material differences between those goods or services are clearly and conspicuously disclosed;

• Appoint a dedicated employee to work with the attorneys general to address ordinary complaints filed by consumers; and

• Train its customer service representatives who speak with consumers to comply with these terms and implement and enforce a program to ensure compliance with these terms.

To read the settlement with AT&T and Cricket Wireless, click here.

To read the settlement with T-Mobile USA, click here.

To read the settlement with Verizon Wireless and TracFone Wireless, click here.