All articles tagged with #attorneys general
Multiple Democratic state attorneys general have sued the Trump administration to prevent efforts to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), arguing that the agency is vital for consumer protection and that recent moves to dismantle it are unjustified. The case is currently under review by the courts, with a hearing scheduled for late February, amid ongoing legal and political debates.
A group of attorneys general, led by Montana's Austin Knudsen, is urging Paramount Global and CBS to refrain from airing Super Bowl ads from Chinese company Temu, which they believe is using forced labor to produce its products. The attorneys general argue that Temu's ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its alleged use of forced labor make it unsuitable for advertising during the high-profile event, citing previous rejected ads as precedent. They emphasize the patriotic significance of the Super Bowl and call for CBS to uphold higher standards by not broadcasting Temu's commercials.
Attorneys general from all 50 states have written an open letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to establish an expert commission to study the means and methods of AI that can be used to exploit children, specifically AI-generated child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The letter also calls for expanding existing restrictions to cover AI-generated images and videos. Prosecutors warn of the potential dangers of deepfake content featuring actual children or fictitious ones created using AI technology. While the tech industry has taken steps to prevent deepfake pornographic content, there is a need for legislation to address the virtual nature of AI-generated CSAM and protect children from exploitation.
Five Republican attorneys general, including Brenna Bird of Iowa, have sent a letter to the 100 largest law firms in the United States, warning them to end race-based hiring practices or face accountability. The attorneys general argue that a recent Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action admissions policies extends to private employers. They raise concerns about diversity programs at law firms that require diverse candidates for leadership roles, set goals for underrepresented groups, or sponsor fellowship programs based on race. The attorneys general also criticize diversity training that assigns blame or bias to members of a race. DEI programs have faced backlash from Republican leaders and lawmakers, with several red states banning DEI offices from publicly funded universities.
Twenty-two attorneys general are opposing a proposed $10.3 billion settlement over the contamination of U.S. public drinking water systems with PFAS chemicals by manufacturer 3M. The attorneys general argue that the settlement does not adequately account for the damage caused by 3M and could shift liability from the company to water providers. The deal also fails to give individual water suppliers enough time to determine if the settlement would cover their costs of removing the chemicals. PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," have been linked to health problems. The attorneys general are urging the federal court to reject the settlement.
More than a dozen Republican attorneys general have sent a letter to major corporations warning them against using racial preferences in hiring and promotion decisions, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling that undercut affirmative action in college admissions. The attorneys general argue that diversity policies and initiatives unlawfully boost certain groups over others and called on companies to refrain from implementing race-based quotas. Conservatives have been increasingly critical of businesses' "woke" policies, particularly around diversity and ESG efforts. The letter alleges that racial discrimination is common and violates civil rights laws, urging companies to treat all employees and applicants equally, without regard for race.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and 14 other attorneys general expressed concern in a letter to Target CEO Brian Cornell about the store's removal of some of its Pride products. While they offered support for Target's intention to keep its workers safe, they questioned if Target gave in to threats. Target had pulled an unspecified number of products from its shelves after facing "confrontational behavior" at its stores and threats of violence on its customer hotline.
The NFL is facing an investigation by attorneys general from New York and California over allegations of employment discrimination and a hostile work environment. The investigation will look into whether the NFL violated federal and state pay equity laws and anti-discrimination laws. The NFL said it will fully cooperate with the investigation and that the allegations are inconsistent with the league's values and practices. The investigation comes more than a year after attorneys general addressed a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to address the "grave concerns" of the allegations made public in a New York Times report.
Attorneys general from 17 US states have urged the federal government to recall millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles due to a sharp increase in thefts, fuelled by a viral social media challenge. Some Kia and Hyundai cars sold in the US over the last decade do not have engine immobilisers, a standard feature on most cars that prevents the engine from starting unless the key is present. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that the stolen car trend has resulted in 14 crashes and eight deaths.
A group of 23 attorneys general in the US have written to Kia and Hyundai urging them to take action against the "crisis of thefts" that they say is a result of the companies' failure to equip vehicles with anti-theft immobilizers. Kia and Hyundai vehicles represent a large share of stolen cars in multiple cities, data from police and state officials suggests. The attorneys general say that's because Kia and Hyundai chose not to include anti-theft immobilizers as standard equipment in many vehicle models sold in the US even though "every other car manufacturer" was doing so.