| A rising organization of state attorneys general is drawing criticism for courting sponsorships for lavish conferences and foreign junkets from a stable of lobbyists and corporate patrons, Axios' Lachlan Markay reports. Why it matters: State AGs have immense influence over public safety and consumer decisions with huge financial implications for corporate America. - Some companies are ponying up tens of thousands of dollars to get exclusive access to officials who might one day be asked to investigate or prosecute them.
Driving the news: Chris Toth, who stepped down as executive director of the National Association of Attorneys General on June 1, contended in his retirement letter that the AG Alliance — a competitor — is selling access to lobbyists and corporate patrons. - The AGA, which began as the Conference of Western Attorneys General, has grown from a regional group to one that represents AGs in 45 states, four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- The AGA "seems to exist for no other reason than to provide access by such actors to attorneys general" at regular meetings, where donors "essentially buy programming," Toth alleged in his letter.
Between the lines: AGA includes attorneys general from both major parties, but its influence has swelled in recent years as some Republican AGs — including in Alabama, Missouri, Montana and Texas — severed ties with NAAG over what they described as a leftward drift. - Texas AG Ken Paxton spoke at last week's AGA meeting. His panel on "evolving litigation trends" examined how "attorneys general and businesses can navigate these issues together."
- It was one of a number of panels that brought together state AGs and executives at companies that support AGA financially.
Zoom in: Financial filings from the Conference of Western Attorneys General, which says it formed AGA to expand its mission beyond Western states, show a deep reliance on donor funds. - Access to AGA meetings, where company executives can meet state AGs and discuss major policy issues, is available only to the organization's donors, according to an internal report obtained by Axios.
- Sources familiar with both AGA's and NAAG's work say the former has developed a reputation in AGs' offices as a more opulent competitor known to wine and dine state officials and their staffers.
The intrigue: In response to a request for comment, the AGA referred Axios to a statement from NAAG's president, Iowa AG Tom Miller, who distanced his own group from Toth's remarks. - "They were his statements alone and they were not made on behalf of NAAG," Miller said. "Both [AGA and NAAG] play important roles in supporting our nation's attorneys general, and our constituents benefit from the organizations' ongoing growth and strength."
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