A Message From Attorney General John Kroger
Attorney General John Kroger speaks at a ceremony honoring our armed forces on May 16, 2009, in McMinnville, OR.
Dear friends,
As a Marine Corps veteran, I am committed to doing everything in my power to honor and protect the rights of veterans and armed forces personnel on active duty.
This legislative session, the Oregon Department of Justice and Representative Greg Matthews (D-50) worked together to draft two important pieces of legislation to help our veterans and their families. House Bill 3256 makes employment discrimination against veterans unlawful and, for the first time, gives Oregon circuit courts jurisdiction to hear these important cases. House Bill 3020 amends the Unlawful Trade Practices Act to make it illegal to knowingly take economic advantage of a deployed or disabled veteran or his or her spouse.
I am happy to announce that both of these initiatives sailed through the legislative process with near unanimous support and have already gained the attention and support of veterans' groups at the national level. They now await the Governor’s signature.
This past weekend, I celebrated Memorial Day by speaking to veterans and their families at OMSI’s USS Blueback Memorial Day Ceremony. This event was both a great honor and a very moving personal experience for me. During my service in the U.S. Marines from 1983 to 1986, I served on a Marine recon team trained to gather intelligence and conduct special operations. As part of that service, I was stationed briefly on the USS Blueback, the submarine that currently resides in the waters outside of OMSI. Speaking at the sub now, as Attorney General, was a real honor.
We must all renew our commitment to honor and protect the rights of those who have made and are making great sacrifices in service to our country. As you go about your day today, please try to find some way to honor our veterans.
Sincerely,
John R. Kroger
Recent News
Local authorities investigating major drug ring - The Register-Guard
Investigators in Lane County are tracking several people allegedly involved in a major drug ring that's being dismantled by police at both ends of the Willamette Valley.
The case — dubbed "Operation Corridor Express" — "is the largest state drug trafficking and racketeering investigation in recent history," Oregon Attorney General John Kroger said Friday.
State officials said the case focuses on a Mexican drug cartel centered in Washington County and the west suburbs of Portland.
The group allegedly supplied drugs between Vancouver, Wash., and Eugene.
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Read ArticleOregon Attorney General announces $655,000 grant to fight Internet sex predators - OregonLive.com
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger announced today a $655,000 federal stimulus grant will help fight online sex predators.
The Recovery Act grant will fund the state justice department's Internet Crimes Against Child unit, which investigates and prosecutes predators who use the internet to target children for sexual exploitation.
"This grant will help us protect children from exploitation," said Attorney General Kroger. "We will use this money to investigate, prosecute and convict sexual predators in Oregon."
Budget cuts had threatened to end the program, which has resulted in 108 convictions since 2005, Kroger said.
Read ArticleFederal grant will help combat violence against women - OregonLive.com
The first Oregon stimulus grant for law enforcement will help combat violent crimes against women.
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger announced Thursday that the Oregon Department of Justice has been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the federal Office on Violence Against Women.
The purpose of the grant is to help fund nonprofit programs so they can hire or retain victim-services workers to help fight domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Money will also go to law enforcement agencies and courts to fund criminal prosecution for those who commit crimes against women.
Read ArticleAttorney General John Kroger announced today that mortgage lending giant Countrywide Financial Corporation will pay $1 million to Oregon to settle potential legal claims resulting from Countrywide's involvement in the national mortgage fraud scandal. Countrywide also agreed to stop offering certain controversial mortgage products and services, including some risky subprime and "low documentation" loans.
In a major development, Countrywide further agreed to modify the interest rates and loan terms for approximately 4600 Oregon families who obtained non-traditional mortgages from Countrywide. Countrywide, once the nation's largest mortgage lender, estimates the total economic relief to Oregon borrowers at more than $90 million.
"This settlement holds Countywide accountable for the immense damage they caused to thousands of Oregon workers and homeowners. It will also help thousands of Oregonians stay in their homes during these tough economic times," Attorney General John Kroger said.
Under the settlement, Countrywide agreed to contact eligible Oregon Countrywide mortgage holders. Countrywide mortgage holders who think they might be eligible for relief pursuant to the agreement can call the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or online at http://www.doj.state.or.us.
- AVC (pdf)
KROGER'S FIRST 100 DAYS - Think Out Loud, OPB
Oregon got a new attorney general this year for the first time since 1996, and John Kroger's early tenure has been pretty busy. Over the past, well, 113 days to be exact, he has worked to pass a bill to curb illegal debt collection practices, taken a stand against a proposed LNG terminal on the Columbia River and filed suit against the financial managers of the state's college savings plan. A few weeks after taking office, Kroger took on the high-profile investigation of Portland Mayor Sam Adams's conduct in his relationship with Beau Breedlove. And last week, the new attorney general announced his latest effort: a new environmental crimes reporting system and a proposal for a dedicated environmental crimes unit in the Department of Justice.
Read ArticleA DEBT-DEFYING ACT - The Register-Guard
Eugene automotive worker Jack Claman's outrage about a Eugene bill collector's $109.55 fee was so great that it overcame his embarrassment about having a delinquent debt.
Demanding a fee just to use a credit card when settling the debt was kicking a guy when he was down, Claman said. So he filed complaints everywhere he could think of - including the Better Business Bureau and the Department of Justice.
"I'm not real proud of the fact that I got taken to collection," he said, "but don't prey on the people who have been taken to collections, and that's what this company is doing. They're preying on people who owe money and who are stressed."
Read ArticleOREGON'S ATTORNEY GENERAL HITS THE GROUND RUNNING - OPB News
Only one person in Oregon got more votes than Barack Obama in last November's election.
That would be Democrat John Kroger, who after a bruising primary battle, breezed to an easy general election victory to become Oregon Attorney General.
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