RELEASE: ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING COURT APPROVAL OF $5 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH STONE ACADEMY AND ITS OWNERS
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 27, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING COURT APPROVAL OF $5 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH STONE ACADEMY AND ITS OWNERS
Harmed Stone Students to Receive Cash Payments and New Training Opportunities
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released a statement today following court approval of the $5 million settlement with Stone Academy and its owners to resolve claims filed by the State and former students involving unfair and deceptive conduct at the defunct for-profit nursing school.
“Stone Academy was a rip-off. Today, its leaders are being held accountable, and its students will see millions of dollars in compensation for the time and money they invested in an education they never received. We remain committed to the Stone students, and will continue to support them in seeking additional relief—including loan forgiveness, potential state aid, and new training—to provide every remedy possible,” said Attorney General Tong.
The settlement resolves all claims filed by the State arising from Stone Academy’s misconduct, including those against Career Training Specialists LLC d/b/a Stone Academy, Paier College of Art, Inc., and Joseph Bierbaum, and all claims by the Ridenhour private class action against Stone Academy, Joseph Bierbaum, and Creative Career Trust, and against the State.
Specific compensation to individual impacted students will be determined through the private class action process. The State will not retain any of the $5 million, aside from $150,000 which will be used to help Stone students prepare for exit exams.
More information on the claims process for impacted students can be found here: Home - Ridenhour v. Stone Academy.
Stone had promised an education that would position students to become Licensed Practical Nurses in less than two years, with hands-on training from industry leaders. Instead, they shuttered abruptly in February 2023, leaving student education plans in limbo and little to show for their investments in time and money. Stone lacked textbooks and experienced teachers, and did not deliver on promised and necessary clinical training. While students struggled with subpar materials in unheated classrooms, the State’s investigation revealed that Stone took in millions of dollars in revenues and continued to enroll new students into its programs.
In addition to the $5 million cash payment, the settlement outlines a series of measures to assist impacted students in completing their education and professional exams, including remedial programs and the potential for students to complete their studies through Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers. The Department of Public Health will end licensure investigations based solely on a nurse’s attendance at Stone Academy.
Further, Bierbaum will be barred from employment anywhere in higher education for five years. Should Stone Academy’s former owners and officers seek to open, own or operate any other for-profit schools in Connecticut, they must notify the Office of the Attorney General.
In addition to the settlement relief, the Office of the Attorney General has petitioned the United States Department of Education to discharge student loan debt related to Stone Academy. The Office of the Attorney General is working with students and their counsel in the class action to seek state legislation this session to enable additional reimbursements of out-of-pocket tuition costs incurred by Stone Academy students, as well as support to help former Stone students obtain careers in healthcare.
The Attorney General was assisted in this matter by Assistant Attorneys General Joseph Gasser, Kate Hsu Hagmann-Borenstein, and Addison Keilty, Legal Investigator Caylee Silva, Paralegal Specialist Megan Kane and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer, Chief of the Consumer Protection Section, and Alina Bricklin-Goldstein, Shawn Rutchick, Laura Thurston, and Deputy Associate Attorney General Dan Shapiro, Chief of the Health and Education Section.
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Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 28, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG TAKES ACTION TO ENFORCE COURT ORDER STOPPING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ILLEGAL FUNDING FREEZE
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong this evening joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general in filing a second motion for enforcement in their ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration’s illegal and destructive freeze of federal funding. Despite multiple court orders, the administration has continued to block hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to the states from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding freeze threatens critical emergency preparedness and recovery programs to address wildfires, floods, cybersecurity threats, and more.
“Trump is defunding disaster relief to states despite numerous, clear court orders blocking his illegal funding freeze. One month into this presidency, it is clear that Donald Trump intends to inflict real, lasting harm on American families, and he is willing to ignore the courts in order to do that. We are returning to court—once again—to defend our states and the families across Connecticut and America who are relying on these funds for life-saving disaster prevention efforts,” said Attorney General Tong. “After superstorms Sandy and Isaias, and the devastating flooding just last August here in Connecticut, we know the damage and destruction of extreme weather, how hard it is to recover, and why we need to be prepared.”
Attorney General Tong and the coalition sued the administration over the freeze on January 28, and on January 31, the court granted the attorneys general’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the freeze’s implementation until further order from the court. On February 7, the coalition filed motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction to stop the illegal freeze until the case resolves and preserve federal funding that families, communities, and states rely on. On February 8, the court granted that first motion for enforcement, ordering the administration to immediately comply with the TRO and stop freezing federal funds.
Despite the TRO, Attorney General Tong and the coalition have found that the administration continues to withhold essential funding, and that states, grantees, and programs are continuing to experience a significant lack of access to funds, putting lives and jobs at risk. The funding that remains frozen includes hundreds of millions of dollars in FEMA grants to essential state programs that are responsible for wildfire prevention response, cybersecurity, flood mitigation, and emergency management.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition’s second motion for enforcement, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, seeks a court order to require the release of funds if the Trump administration is unable to provide evidence that they have been unfrozen.
This lawsuit is led by the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 3, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON NORWALK MAYOR RILLING
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding the announcement by Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling that he will not seek reelection.
"Harry Rilling has been a great Mayor and an even better friend. I would not be Attorney General without his guidance and support over all these years. He has shown that it's possible to be a strong law enforcement leader and to work hard to protect public safety while at the same time empowering people in his city, promoting equity and lifting up all communities. He has turned Norwalk into a key economic engine in our state that leads the way in growth and a shared prosperity. I wish him and Lucia the very best as they embark on the next chapter in their lives, but I know I'll continue to work with him in the years ahead."
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES NATIONWIDE PRELIMINARY INJUCTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DEFUNDING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 21 other attorneys general have secured a nationwide preliminary injunction in Massachusetts v. NIH. The order prevents the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from cutting billions of dollars in funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country regardless of whether their states have joined the lawsuit.
The preliminary injunction protects critical funds that facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without them, the lifesaving and life-changing medical research in which the United States has long been a leader, could be compromised.
“We just secured a nationwide block on Donald Trump’s illegal attack on science and public health. His far-reaching executive order sought to defund cutting-edge cancer research, advancements in treatments for heart disease, autism, Alzheimer’s, and preventable newborn deaths. His needless order would have put thousands and thousands of people out of work, and made us all sicker in the meantime. This is a major early victory, and I’m going to keep fighting this case for as long as it takes to protect Connecticut families,” said Attorney General Tong.
On February 10, less than six hours after the coalition filed their lawsuit against the Administration, a judge in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order against NIH, barring its attempts to cut the critical research funding. Today’s order takes the place of the temporary restraining order and prevents the Trump Administration from cutting this important category of funding as the case proceeds. It will remain in effect until a final ruling is made.
The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types and the first sequencing of DNA. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.
This lawsuit is being co-led by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Joining this coalition are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 6, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES COURT ORDER BLOCKING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM FREEZING FEDERAL FUNDS
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general today won a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration to block its illegal policy that would freeze funding for essential federal agency grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs. Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island today granted the preliminary injunction after Attorney General Tong and the coalition sued the Trump administration to stop the funding freeze.
“This is a major early victory, signaling the strength of our case and the brazen lawlessness of Trump’s overreaching executive order. Let’s not forget what Donald Trump did on January 27—this was a blanket freeze on trillions of dollars of federal funding, hitting every corner of our government. This was no idle threat. On the day we sued, Head Start funding was down. Medicaid funding was frozen. We sued immediately, and the court orders we have secured are what is now standing in the way of Donald Trump defunding our police, our highways, energy assistance, and our schools. This fight is far from over, but we are prepared to stay in court for as long as it takes to protect Connecticut families and Connecticut jobs,” said Attorney General Tong.
The administration’s funding freeze policy, issued through an array of actions, including a January 27 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), illegally withheld trillions of dollars in federal funds for states and other entities like nonprofit organizations and community health centers. The policy caused immediate chaos and uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on state programs that receive these federal funds.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition sued the administration over the freeze on January 28, and on January 31, the court granted the attorneys general’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the freeze’s implementation until further order from the court. On February 7, Attorney General Tong and the coalition filed motions for enforcement and a preliminary injunction to stop the illegal freeze and preserve federal funding that families, communities, and states rely on. On February 8, the court granted the motion for enforcement, ordering the administration to immediately comply with the TRO and stop freezing federal funds. On February 28, Attorney General Tong and the coalition filed a second motion for enforcement seeking to stop the Trump administration from freezing hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to the states from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted Attorney General Tong and the coalition’s request for a preliminary injunction, halting the implementation of the administration’s policy. The Court concluded that the states had demonstrated a high likelihood of success on their claims that the actions making up the funding freeze policy were unlawful. In today’s order, the Court also required the administration to provide evidence of their compliance with regard to unfreezing FEMA funds by March 14 and to alert all agencies about the Court’s order.
The lawsuit is led by the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 7, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG MOVES FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO STOP MASS FIRINGS AND SEEK REINSTATEMENT OF FEDERAL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, alongside a coalition of 20 attorneys general, moved for a temporary restraining order for numerous federal agencies, asking that a federal court order them to cease the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees, and to reinstate those who have been fired.
This motion, seeking immediate relief, is necessary because the mass firings by federal agencies are causing irreparable injuries to Connecticut and the other plaintiff states. The ongoing and sudden mass firings are straining state resources to support recently unemployed workers, and to review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. Moreover, the unlawful layoffs will harm state finances and undermine vital state-federal partnerships.
“The indiscriminate mass firing of federal employees is grinding our government to a halt. Fewer air traffic controllers keeping our skies safe. Fewer workers making sure our retirees get their checks on time, and that our veterans receive the healthcare and benefits they earned. Fewer people making sure our vaccines will be effective and ready when we need them. Fewer people cleaning the toilets and picking up the trash so that we can visit our treasured national parks. And across our country—and here in Connecticut—there are fired federal workers worried about how they will pay their mortgage and afford food for their families this month. This is lawless, needless cruelty, and we are asking the court to immediately order the reinstatement of these workers,” said Attorney General Tong.
In an effort to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government, the Trump administration initiated mass terminations of federal employees, ordering numerous federal agencies to fire thousands of probationary employees. These personnel are newly hired or have recently been promoted or changed offices, and they are generally subject to a probationary period of one or two years before they are entitled to full protections under federal employment laws.
While federal agencies claimed, in the form of termination letters, that these probationary employees were fired for unsatisfactory performance or conduct, the firings were actually part of the administration’s attempt to restructure and downsize the entire federal government. In the lawsuit filed today, the coalition of attorneys general claims that the administration was therefore required to follow federal laws and regulations that govern large-scale federal “Reductions in Force” (RIF). These critical protections ensure that personnel such as military veterans are given preference in retaining their jobs.
When a RIF results in a layoff of 50 or more employees, the agency must generally give at least 60 days’ advance notice to states governments, so they can provide vital “rapid response” information, resources, and services to affected workers. The federal agencies named in the lawsuit failed to provide any advance notice to Connecticut, causing significant expense and injury and burden on the state as it scrambles to respond to the sudden mass layoffs of its residents.
In today’s motion, Attorney General Tong is seeking an immediate ruling by the Court to:
• Reinstate unlawfully fired employees;
• Stop further similar terminations; and
• Identify affected employees
Joining the coalition are the attorneys general of Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTION OF PETITION FROM 19 REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL SEEKING TO BLOCK CONNECTICUT EXXONMOBIL SUIT
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a petition filed by 19 Republican state attorneys general attempting to block cases filed by Connecticut and four other states seeking to hold ExxonMobil accountable for decades of deceiving Connecticut consumers about the climate harms of its products and business.
“This petition was a total loser from the start and the U.S. Supreme Court was absolutely right to reject it. It was embarrassingly obvious that none of these states even bothered to read our complaint before lodging this ridiculous lawsuit,” said Attorney General Tong. “This was a failed attempt to distract us from real threats—like the climate crisis—to the health and safety of Connecticut families. Our case is as simple as it is strong—ExxonMobil must be held accountable for the massive harm their deception caused to our environment, public health, and economy.”
Connecticut’s case was filed in September 2020 in Hartford Superior Court under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. One of the core responsibilities of the Attorney General is to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices. Despite that, ExxonMobil has unsuccessfully tried to remove Connecticut’s case to federal court and dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has affirmed that Connecticut’s case against ExxonMobil belongs in Connecticut state court, and the Connecticut Superior Court denied ExxonMobil’s attempt to have the case dismissed. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear ExxonMobil’s challenges in other cases.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG BACKS LEGISLATION TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR GUN INDUSTRY BAD ACTORS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today submitted testimony backing legislation proposed by his office to enable the state, municipalities and private citizens to sue bad actors in the gun industry who fail to take reasonable, commonsense measures to protect us from gun violence.
“The Office of the Attorney General stands ready to enforce this law to go after improper practices within the firearm industry that threaten the lives and safety of Connecticut residents. Connecticut has long been a national leader for gun safety, and, in honor of our painful history, we should stand up again to hold the firearm industry responsible for their actions. By passing this bill Connecticut will continue to lead and to keep its citizens safe,” Attorney General Tong states in the testimony.
"For too long, the firearm industry has operated with near-total immunity, profiting while communities suffer the devastating consequences of gun violence. This legislation will be a preventative deterrent to save lives so that lawsuits are not a necessary course of action. In the same token, Connecticut is taking the necessary steps to ensure that firearm manufacturers and dealers who engage in reckless and unlawful practices are held accountable—just like any other industry. Connecticut has led the nation in common-sense gun laws, and with this bill, we will make it clear: if you put profits over public safety, you will face justice,” said Earl Bloodworth, Executive Director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence.
“This is commonsense legislation that bolsters accountability for firearm manufacturers,” said State Representative Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport), Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “We must continue to keep our communities safe and help prevent tragic incidents in the future by holding our nation’s firearm manufacturers responsible when they act in bad faith. I’m proud to be a leader on this essential bill and I look forward to advocating for it through the legislative process.”
The legislation would permit the Office of the Attorney General to bring civil enforcement actions against gun manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers who fail to implement reasonable controls to prevent the sale of firearms to straw purchasers, firearm traffickers, individuals prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law or individuals the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe intend to use it for a crime or to cause harm to themselves or others. The bill also permits private citizens, or corporation counsels on behalf of municipalities, the right to bring suits for loss or injury as a result of a failure to implement those reasonable controls.
This bill would not impact responsible gun owners or responsible industry professionals.
Attorney General Tong is part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general formed in 2024 to hold irresponsible firearms industry members accountable for their devastating impact on gun violence. This multistate coalition, the first of its kind, aims to reduce gun violence through the coordinated enforcement of state civil liability and consumer protection laws, among other authority, to promote public safety and saving lives.
The legislation is modeled after similar measures in coalition states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Legal challenges to these laws have been uniformly upheld to date. In December 2024, both New Jersey and Minnesota sued Glock under their accountability statute for knowingly selling and manufacturing handguns that can be easily converted into machine guns.
The gun industry has enjoyed enormous exemptions from liability and accountability in court since the passage of the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which provides firearm industry defendants with broad immunity from many common law tort actions. Congress carved out six exceptions to this immunity, pursuant to which firearms sellers may be held liable for third-party crimes committed with their products. This includes civil actions alleging that a manufacturer or seller of a firearm knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm, and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought.
Here in Connecticut, the families of the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School opened the door to holding the industry accountable for gun violence by suing Bushmaster for improper marketing and advertising of its firearms under PLCAA’s predicate exception.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 13, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO PROTECT STUDENTS
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education (ED). On March 11, the Trump administration announced that ED would be firing approximately 50 percent of its workforce as part of its goal of a “total shutdown” of the Department. Attorney General Tong and the coalition today filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the targeted destruction of this critical federal agency that ensures tens of millions of students receive a quality education and critical resources.
“Do not play politics with our kids’ education. Donald Trump, his unelected billionaire wrecking ball Elon Musk, and their enabler Linda McMahon want to destroy the Department of Education, and they do not care what harm this inflicts on our kids and teachers. This is not a meme or an empty threat—these are thousands of jobs on the line and core support systems for our schools across Connecticut and the country. Congress did not authorize this, and American families do not want this. We are suing today and will seek an immediate court order to block this lawless attack on kids and schools,” said Attorney General Tong.
The ED’s programs serve nearly 18,200 school districts and over 50 million K-12 students attending roughly 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools throughout the country. Its higher education programs provide services and support to more than 12 million postsecondary students annually. Students with disabilities and students from low-income families are some of the primary beneficiaries of ED services and funding. Federal ED funds for special education include support for assistive technology for students with disabilities, teacher salaries and benefits, transportation to help children receive the services and programming they need, physical therapy and speech therapy services, and social workers to help manage students’ educational experience. The ED also supports students in rural communities by offering programs designed to help rural school districts that often lack the personnel and resources needed to compete for competitive grants.
As Attorney General Tong and the coalition assert in the lawsuit, dismantling ED will have devastating effects for states like Connecticut. The administration’s lay-off is so massive that ED will be incapacitated and unable to perform essential functions. As the lawsuit asserts, the administration’s actions will deprive students with special needs of critical resources and support. They will gut ED’s Office of Civil Rights, which protects students from discrimination and sexual assault. They would additionally hamstring the processing of financial aid, raising costs for college and university students who will have a harder time accessing loans, Pell Grants, and work study programs.
With this lawsuit, Attorney General Tong and the coalition are seeking a court order to stop the administration’s policies to dismantle ED by drastically cutting its workforce and programs. Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions to dismantle ED are illegal and unconstitutional. The Department is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous different laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the Executive Branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally incapacitate or dismantle it without an act of Congress.
Joining Attorney General Tong in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 14, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG WINS TEMPORARY BLOCK ON MASS FIRINGS OF FEDERAL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES AND GETS FIRED EMPLOYEES THEIR JOBS BACK
Federal Judge Orders 18 Federal Agencies to Give Employees Their Jobs Back by Monday
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement after a federal judge in the United States District Court for Maryland issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) for 18 federal agencies, ordering them to stop the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and to reinstate fired employees by 1:00pm on Monday, March 17, 2025.
“This order is a major reprieve for thousands of workers across the country and here in Connecticut. These are people we all rely on to keep our skies safe, to make sure our retirees get their checks on time, to get our veterans the healthcare and benefits they served and sacrificed for. And these people are the backbones of families all over who rely on this work to pay their mortgage and feed their children. In their rush to gut the federal government, Donald Trump and Elon Musk illegally bulldozed through basic required steps, and we’re not going to let him get away with this lawless and needless cruelty,” said Attorney General Tong.
The TRO order comes seven days after Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general on March 6, 2025, in suing numerous federal agencies for causing irreparable injuries to Connecticut and the other plaintiff states. The lawsuit sought immediate relief. The TRO stops the unlawful mass firings, orders the agencies to give those employees their jobs back, and applies to the following 18 federal agencies:
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
Department of Treasury
Department of Veterans Affairs
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
General Services Administration
Small Business Administration
United States Agency for International Development
Attorney General Tong was joined by the attorneys general of Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 14, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING COURT DECISION UPHOLDING $2 MILLION PENALTY FOR UNITED ILLUMINATING OVER FAILURE TO CLEAN-UP ENGLISH STATION
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding a Superior Court decision issued Thursday upholding the $2 million annual penalty levied by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority at the urging of Attorney General Tong against United Illuminating for the company’s longstanding failure to remediate contamination at the defunct English Station power plant in New Haven.
“Every day that English Station remains a contaminated eyesore is a slap in the face to the State of Connecticut and New Haven families. This decision leaves no room for doubt—United Illuminating is obligated to remediate English Station, they haven’t, and now they must confront the serious consequences of their failures,” said Attorney General Tong. “How United Illuminating mishandled English Station is one of so many examples of this foreign-controlled company abusing Connecticut families. They take huge profits from Connecticut ratepayers—who can barely afford the skyrocketing bills—and want to leave us to clean up their mess. We’re not going to let them get away with it.”
The court decision upholds a $2 million annual penalty imposed by PURA in 2023 as part of a broader rate case. United Illuminating had sought a bloated and unsupported $130.7 million rate hike, padded with exorbitant corporate profits. Attorney General Tong argued against the hike, seeking penalties for UI’s failures at English Station and identifying numerous areas where the utility sought to shift inflated, inappropriate costs onto ratepayers, including subsidized dog walking for employees working from home, “loyalty” bonuses for workers, advertising and membership fees, and an increased profit margin far exceeding the return on equity for any publicly regulated utility in Connecticut, among many other areas. PURA rejected all but $23 million of that demand.
United Illuminating appealed the penalty and the broader rate case, and filed a subsequent demand for an additional rate hike. Attorney General Tong has fought back against each of those actions on behalf of Connecticut families.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 17, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG VOWS TO FIGHT FOR CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND CLIMATE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THREATENS TO GUT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today promised to fight for Connecticut clean air, clean water and climate following the announcement by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin that his agency will gut regulations protecting Americans from airborne toxins, smog, dirty power plants and more.
The Trump Administration has also taken steps towards rescinding the 16-year-old “endangerment finding” establishing the non-controversial, scientifically-supported and widely understood connection between greenhouse gases and harm to human health and the environment. That finding is the foundation enabling regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from numerous sources, including power plants and motor vehicles.
“This is a dangerous attack on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the planet we all rely on for life so that the world’s biggest polluters can pocket even bigger profits. The Office of the Attorney General was involved in establishing many of these regulations, and we’re going to fight these reckless rollbacks at every single step,” said Attorney General Tong. “I’m particularly worried about what these actions mean for air quality. Connecticut sits at the end of our nation’s tailpipe. Without strong federal regulations and responsible actions by our upwind neighbors, there’s nothing we can do to stop the influx of smog from our country’s heaviest cross-state polluters. A dirty power plant operator four states away is going to get a free pass while kids in Connecticut choke. These regulations were carefully crafted over decades after intensive public scrutiny and analysis, and we’re not going to let Trump erase them without a fight.”
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG OPPOSES CHANGES TO NEW PASSPORT APPLICATION RULE HARMING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
Proposed Changes Conflict with State Laws, Create Confusion, Increase Costs, and Harm Transgender Americans
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong this week joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter to the U.S. Department of State opposing proposed changes to the passport application process that would prevent transgender people from obtaining a passport that matches their gender identity.
“This is yet another rash proclamation from a President with zero consideration for the real hurt it will inflict on American people, and the chaos it will cause. A passport is for travel identification. It’s not something for the government to muck around with to score political points at the expense of people just trying to live their lives,” said Attorney General Tong.
On January 20, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order declaring that the United States will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and instructing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, among others, to “implement changes that require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder’s sex,” as defined by the Executive Order. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of State proposed changes to several passport information collection forms. The Executive Order and proposed form changes break with decades of federal policy on gender identity, including the ability for individuals to change gender markers in identifying records and documents.
In its comment letter, the coalition argues that the proposed changes would significantly harm non-binary and transgender people. Forcing a transgender or non-binary person to have identity documents that do not align with their gender identity impedes their ability to live and travel. For example, when a person’s passport does not comport with their physical appearance, it could cause confusion, delays, or harassment when they travel within the United States and internationally. These harms compound the psychological harm that could result from the new policy.
Further, the coalition argues that the policy would cause considerable confusion between state-issued identification cards and federal identification documents. The proposed changes conflict with state laws that permit gender marker changes on identifying documents, allowing individuals to participate society and obtain public benefits. At least 16 states, including Connecticut, allow transgender and non-binary people to correct their state-issued birth certificate to accurately reflect their gender identity. If identifying information on state-issued documents does not match with information on federal documents, individuals would likely experience delays when trying to access resources, and states would likely be forced to expend needless resources to review mismatched documents.
Joining Attorney General Tong in submitting the comment letter, which was led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and New York Attorney General Letitia James, were the attorneys general from Massachusetts, New York, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 20, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES SALVATORE CARABETTA FOR ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENT ON STATE PARK
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong has filed an enforcement action against Salvatore Carabetta and his Meriden Homestead II and Meriden Homestead III LLCs for the egregious illegal encroachment on Lamentation Mountain State Park property.
Lamentation Mountain is a state park on the border of Meriden and Berlin. Salvatore Carabetta and his series of LLCs control four parcels of land directly to the south of the state park. Because one of the parcels lacks street access, the State in 1984 granted a prior property owner a limited easement allowing development of a gravel drive into that parcel through a section of Lamentation Mountain State Park.
The action alleges that since owning the property, Carabetta has illegally clearcut acres of state forest, and has unlawfully built numerous fixtures on state property, including an asphalt driveway, a basketball court, two sheds, an animal shed, a drainage system with runoff into the state park, and a guest house. Carabetta is also alleged to have taken additional measures to prevent public access to the state park lands, including padlocking the access road with large “Private No Trespassing” signs affixed to state park trees.
The enforcement action, filed in Hartford Superior Court, seeks a court order to restore Lamentation Mountain State Park to its original condition, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief and damages up to five times the cost of restoration. The action seeks to hold both the Meriden Homestead LLCs, as well as Salvatore Carabetta personally liable under the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine.
“The state has zero tolerance for unlawful encroachment on and destruction of public lands,” said Attorney General Tong. “State parks such as Lamentation Mountain are held in the public trust for the benefit of all. Private encroachments on public property will not be tolerated.”
Efforts by the state to address these numerous violations out of court have failed. Last year, Carabetta unsuccessfully sought state legislation to transfer state parklands to his ownership to evade accountability.
Assistant Attorney General Daniel Salton and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 20, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER DISMANTLING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement regarding the executive order issued by President Donald Trump today ordering the dismantling of the Department of Education.
Attorney General Tong and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general last week sued to block efforts by the Trump Administration to fire more than 50 percent of the Department of Education’s workforce in an effort to ultimately dismantle and incapacitate the department. Today’s order is the latest illegal effort by the Trump Administration to undermine American education and hurt our kids.
“This is a reckless assault on our kids and schools across America. On funding for special education. For teachers. For school buses. For college financial aid. Donald Trump and Linda McMahon say they will just send this money to the states. I don’t believe that for a single second. They have zero plan and no authorization to do that, and they want to get rid of all the people who would be responsible for making that happen. We know where this money is really going—to billionaire tax breaks and Cybertrucks for diplomats. The simple truth is they just don’t care what happens to schools and kids and teachers in this country. We’ve already sued, and we are reviewing this lawless action now and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our kids,” said Attorney General Tong.
The Department is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous different laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Tong asserts that the Executive Branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally incapacitate or dismantle it without an act of Congress.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 24, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ISSUES CONSUMER ALERT REGARDING 23ANDME BANKRUPTCY
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today issued a consumer alert regarding 23andMe’s recent bankruptcy filing. 23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company that collects and analyzes the most sensitive and irreplaceable information about individuals, their genetic code.
The Office of the Attorney General has been monitoring the company as part of the investigation into a data breach at 23andMe discovered in October 2023 that led to the exposure of the personal information of nearly seven million Americans.
“23andMe collected incredibly sensitive genetic data from millions of Americans, and their inability to protect that data irreparably harmed their business. Regardless of this bankruptcy filing, they need to honor their promises to protect consumer privacy and the security of the data they maintain. Consumers may also wish to proactively protect their own data, including deleting their genetic data, requesting the destruction of their test sample, and revoking authorization for 23andMe to share access with third-party researchers. We are watching this bankruptcy filing closely and expect to be actively engaged to ensure sensitive records are protected and 23andMe is held accountable,” said Attorney General Tong.
This past Sunday, March 23rd, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In a press release, 23andMe stated that despite the bankruptcy, “The Company intends to continue operating its business in the ordinary course throughout the sale process. There are no changes to the way the Company stores, manages, or protects customer data…”
In light these developments, Attorney General Tong would like to remind Connecticut residents of their rights under the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA), particularly the right to delete personal information and the right to revoke consent for the processing of personal data.
Consumers can delete their 23andMe account and personal information with the following steps:
To Delete Genetic Data from 23andMe
1. Log into your 23andMe account on their website.
2. Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
3. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
4. Click “View” next to “23andMe Data”
5. Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
6. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
7. Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
8. Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
To Destroy Your 23andMe Test Sample
If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under “Preferences.”
To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research
If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page, under “Research and Product Consents.”
Under the CTDPA, Connecticut consumers have the right to access, obtain, correct, and delete personal data collected about them under certain circumstances. Consumers have the right to opt out of the sale of their data, and to opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising or automated decision-making. The CTDPA also gives consumers the right to revoke consent that has been previously granted for the processing of their personal information.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 24, 2025
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TESTIMONY SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ACCESS TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
(Hartford, CT) – The Office of the Attorney General's Special Co-Counsel for Reproductive Rights today submitted testimony in support of legislation to protect access to emergency medical treatment, as well protections for providers offering medically accurate and relevant health care information.
The testimony supports S.B. 7, An Act Concerning Protections for Access to Health Care and the Equitable Delivery of Health Care Services in the State.
Specifically, the testimony addresses Sections 5 to 13 regarding Protections for Patients Suffering from an Emergency Medical Condition and Section 4, regarding Protections for Providers Who Counsel Patients on Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care or Provide Care Necessary to Stabilize an Emergency Medical Condition.
The legislation seeks to establish a state statute equivalent to the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which requires hospitals to provide all patients who have an emergency medical condition with the treatment required to stabilize their condition. In 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent holding that the United States Constitution protects women’s rights to control their own bodies, including the choice to have an abortion. Since then, states have passed numerous laws both to protect and prohibit access to abortion care. As a result, conflicts have arisen between different states’ laws and between state and federal laws, including EMTALA. Under the Biden Administration, the federal government interpreted EMTALA to set a standard of care and require a hospital to provide an abortion if medically necessary to stabilize an emergency medical condition regardless of whether state law prohibited an abortion to save the health of the patient. The Trump Administration has begun to withdraw from challenges to state abortion bans that may violate EMTALA, signaling a significant shift in the federal government’s position.
S.B. 7 would ensure that access to emergency medical care is protected in Connecticut, regardless of the federal government. The testimony cites a recent enforcement action brought by California against a private hospital who refused to provide an emergency abortion to a woman fifteen weeks pregnant with twins and suffering pain and severe bleeding after her water prematurely broke. The hospital confirmed that the twins could not survive, but refused to provide emergency abortion care due to a “detectable heartbeat.” The hospital provided the woman with towels and bucket, “in case something happened in the car,” and sent the bleeding and suffering woman to drive 12 miles away to another hospital. Fortunately, the woman arrived in time to receive the care she needed. But had the same thing occurred several months later, after the second hospital had closed its labor and delivery unit, the woman would have faced a much longer trip and might have suffered a much worse outcome.
The testimony further supports Section 4, which establishes protections for providers who counsel patients on reproductive and gender-affirming health care, or who provide care necessary to stabilize an emergency medical condition.
Click here for the full testimony.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 24, 2025
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBMITS TESTIMONY SUPPORTING SHIELD LAW REFORMS
(Hartford, CT) -- The Office of the Attorney General's Special Co-Counsel for Reproductive Rights today submitted testimony in support of legislation to reform Connecticut’s reproductive rights “shield law” to further protect providers and patients of reproductive and gender-affirming health care in Connecticut.
The reforms would enhance protections for assisted reproduction and telehealth, ensure gender-affirming care is protected in the same way as reproductive health care, and would strengthen protections for sensitive health data.
In 2022, Connecticut, led by the Judiciary Committee, was the first state in the nation to pass a reproductive rights “shield law” in anticipation of the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned decades of precedent holding that the United States Constitution protects individuals’ rights to control their own bodies, including the choice to have an abortion. Public Act 22-19 shields individuals from being subjected to litigation for providing or receiving reproductive and gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in Connecticut. These protections are essential for individuals seeking the medical care they need without fear of intimidation or legal liability. Both H.B. 7135 and S.B. 1530 make important changes to Connecticut’s shield law by shoring up existing protections, consolidating duplicative statutes, and consistently protecting the provision of gender-affirming care.
Click for the full testimony, submitted in support of both H.B. 7135 and S.B. 1530.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES COMCAST AND YES TO REACH AGREEMENT BEFORE OPENING DAY
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement urging Comcast and the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network (YES) to reach an agreement and prevent a shutoff before MLB Opening Day on Thursday.
“Once again, sports fans are caught in between two corporations who can’t get their act together. Both Comcast and YES need to get back to the table and work out a deal immediately so we can all watch Opening Day in peace,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON LAWLESS TRUMP ELECTION ORDER
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement in response to the executive order issued last night by President Donald Trump seeking to illegally defund states who do not comply with his list of voter suppression measures.
“This is a lawless attempt to suppress and manipulate free and fair elections across the United States, from an unhinged aspiring dictator still seeking to rewrite history to erase his defeat more than four years ago. Since 1788—plainly spelled out in Article 1 of the Constitution and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court—elections are run by the states. This is about Donald Trump trying to pick and choose who gets to vote in this country, and that is not what democracy means. We are working closely with states across the country and are evaluating all legal options to protect our constitutional authority to conduct our elections in a manner that respects voters’ rights and our need for safe and secure elections,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES CONSUMERS TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION FOR INFLATED GENERIC DRUG PRICES
Attorney General Tong Leads 50 States and Territories Filing Motion for Preliminary Approval for $39.1 Million Settlement with Generic Drug Manufacturer Apotex over Conspiracy to Inflate Prices and Limit Competition
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation for certain generic drug purchases as Connecticut leads 50 states and territories in seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition.
Attorney General Tong and the multistate coalition previously announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last fall along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. At the time of that announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition is filing the settlement today in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.
If you purchased a generic prescription drug listed here between May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email in...@AGGenericDrugs.com or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com.
“Apotex engaged in a widespread conspiracy to jack up prices and block competition for generic prescription drugs. Their brazen collusion cost American families and our public healthcare programs millions of dollars. If you are among the millions and millions of Americans who purchased one of many prescription drugs covered by our suit, you may be eligible for compensation. I urge you to visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com so you can check the drug list and register your contact information for updates on the claims process” said Attorney General Tong.
The settlement agreements resolve allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs. As part of the settlement agreements, both Apotex and Heritage have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to injunctive relief to prevent future misconduct and to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
Connecticut is leading a coalition of nearly all states and territories filing three antitrust complaints, starting first in 2016. The first Complaint included Heritage and 17 other corporate Defendants, two individual Defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating. The second Complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The Complaint names 16 individual senior executive Defendants. The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. Six additional pharmaceutical executives have entered into settlement agreements with the States and have been cooperating to support the States’ claims in all three cases.
The cases all stem from a series of investigations built on evidence from several cooperating witnesses at the core of the different conspiracies, a massive document database of over 20 million documents, and a phone records database containing millions of call detail records and contact information for over 600 sales and pricing individuals in the generics industry. Each complaint addresses a different set of drugs and defendants, and lays out an interconnected web of industry executives where these competitors met with each other during industry dinners, "girls nights out", lunches, cocktail parties, golf outings and communicated via frequent telephone calls, emails and text messages that sowed the seeds for their illegal agreements. Throughout the complaints, defendants use terms like "fair share," "playing nice in the sandbox," and "responsible competitor" to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion. Among the records obtained by the States is a two-volume notebook containing the contemporaneous notes of one of the States’ cooperators that memorialized his discussions during phone calls with competitors and internal company meetings over a period of several years.
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in today’s announcement.
Lead Assistant Attorney General Joseph Nielsen and Assistant Attorneys General Alex Frisbee, Kyle Ainsworth, Cara Moody, Paralegal Gaile Colaresi and Deputy Associate Attorney General Nicole Demers, Chief of the Antitrust Section – along with former team members Assistant Attorneys General Laura Martella, Christine Miller and Sage LaRue Zitzkat, and retired Assistant Attorneys General Michael Cole, Rachel Davis, and Toni Conti – assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDING FEDERAL GHOST GUN REGULATIONS
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding the 7-2 decision issued today by the U.S. Supreme Court in Bondi v. Vanderstock upholding federal ghost gun regulations.
“This is a significant win for public safety, for commonsense gun safety laws, and for everyone who cares about keeping crime guns off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous criminals. Ghost guns are guns. They exist for one reason—to evade background checks and law enforcement. The ATF rule is fully lawful and necessary to protect public safety. I will continue to defend our lifesaving gun laws—in any state, in any court, anywhere public safety is under threat. That includes enforcement of Connecticut’s own ghost gun laws, and ongoing efforts to defend our post-Sandy Hook assault weapon and large-capacity magazine bans, commonsense age limits on pistol permits and prohibitions on firearms in state parks,” said Attorney General Tong. “We will not allow crime guns and weapons of war back into our schools, our parks, our houses of worship, our grocery stores, and our communities.”
This was not a Second Amendment case but rather a question of statutory definitions. The case challenged a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule, which clarifies that the definition of “firearms” in the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) includes kits and parts that can be converted into fully-functional firearms. This common-sense clarification does not ban gun kits. Rather, it subjects kits and nearly-complete guns to the same rules as conventionally manufactured guns—including serial number and background check requirements.
Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general filing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the ATF’s ghost gun rule, arguing that striking it down would harm public safety and hinder law enforcement. The attorneys general described how the rule is consistent with the text, history, and purpose of the GCA and demonstrate that the Fifth Circuit’s decision was erroneous. They argued that the rule is necessary to close a dangerous loophole and stop people who are banned from owning guns from making an end run around existing law—which they were able to do before gun kits were subject to the same regulations as other firearms. Additionally, the coalition shared early evidence that the rule was already improving public safety: multiple jurisdictions had seen a drop in ghost gun recoveries since the rule went into effect in 2023. A copy of the brief is available here.
Connecticut has taken its own commonsense measures to protect the public from the dangers of ghost guns. On October 1, 2019, Connecticut banned the sale and receipt of unfinished frame and lower receiver gun components lacking serial numbers or unique identification, which are used to build ghost guns. In 2023, Attorney General Tong sued four out-of-state firearm dealers for selling and advertising illegal, untraceable ghost gun parts in violation of Connecticut’s 2019 ban. Connecticut has since reached civil settlements with three of the four dealers recovering penalties totaling $885,000. Two of the dealers have ceased operations and a third has committed to putting in place strong controls and reporting to ensure ongoing compliance with Connecticut law.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 27, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG VOWS TO FIGHT UNLAWFUL CANCELATION OF MORE THAN $12 BILLION IN FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDS TO STATES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement vowing to fight more than $12 billion in unlawfully canceled public health funding to states, including more than $150 million to Connecticut alone.
“This is a reckless escalation of Donald Trump’s lawless war on American families and workers. We are coordinating with states across the country and will respond in court,” said Attorney General Tong. “He is robbing our nation of more than $12 billion to fight infectious disease, combat the opioid and addiction crisis, and support mental health when we’ve got measles and bird flu spreading, families wrecked by opioids and an unchecked surge of deadly fentanyl, and children in mental health crises lined up in emergency departments because we don’t have the services we need to support them. And where is all our money going? The stock market is tanking, basic family costs are surging, and people are losing their jobs across the country. The President seems bound and determined to make us sick, broke, and to put us in danger. He wants to defund healthcare, defund our savings, our retirement and Social Security, and he wants to defund the police. He just doesn’t care.”
This is the latest lawless effort by Trump to unilaterally rescind Congressionally-authorized funding to states. If he is successful, Trump will be responsible for countless Connecticut workers losing their jobs, not to mention the harm that thousands of Connecticut families will suffer. The impact of these cuts will be immediate and far reaching.
Attorney General Tong sued and secured a preliminary injunction blocking Trump’s first funding freeze issued in January impacting trillions of dollars to states across every aspect of government, including Head Start, Medicaid, and funding for police, highways, energy assistance and schools. This week, Attorney General Tong and 22 other attorneys general returned to court seeking to force the Trump administration to comply with that order and unfreeze essential funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Attorney General Tong has also sued and secured a preliminary injunction blocking Trump’s efforts to defund the National Institutes of Health and lifesaving medical and public health research.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 31, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON RECKLESS DRIVING OVER 100 MPH
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today submitted testimony in support of legislation proposed by his office to crack down on reckless driving over 100 mph, which endangers all using our roads.
The legislation, H.B. No. 7260, An Act Concerning Excessive Reckless Driving, would add new penalties for “excessive reckless driving,” defined as over 100 mph, including impoundment of vehicles after a prior conviction.
“There is not a day that goes by where I do not experience someone driving recklessly on our roads and highways along my commute up to Hartford, and even more concerningly when I am driving with my family. From excessive speeding and reckless lane changes to distracted and intoxicated driving, this brazen lawlessness puts all of us at risk and cannot be tolerated. Regardless of day, time, or what lane I am in there are individuals speeding by, often exceeding one-hundred miles-per-hour, with little to no consequence. My family and all Connecticut families deserve to be safe on our roadways without concern that an irresponsible driver will jeopardize their wellbeing. That is why we must do more to protect the safety of our roads, and I believe this bill is a step in the right direction.
“By requiring the 48-hour impoundment of someone’s motor vehicle after they have been arrested for travelling over one-hundred miles-per-hour will increase accountability for those engaging in this type of reckless behavior and will likely make them think twice before traveling that fast again. This dangerous activity can have life altering, and sometimes fatal, consequences not only for the operator of the motor vehicle but potentially on innocent travelers just trying to get to their destination safely. With over three-hundred fatalities from car crashes just last year, it is time we take meaningful steps to increase the safety of our roads,” Attorney General Tong states in his testimony.
Attorney General Tong has also previously submitted testimony in support of S.B. 1284, An Act Concerning the Illegal Use of Certain Vehicles and Street Takeovers, which would enable municipalities to seize certain motor vehicles and increase penalties for those engaged in illegal street takeovers.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES HHS, SEC. KENNEDY TO OVERTURN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT CUTS
(Hartford, CT)—Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for abruptly and illegally terminating $11 billion in critical public health grants to the states.
The grant terminations, which came with no warning or legally valid explanation, have quickly caused chaos for state health agencies that continue to rely on these critical funds for a wide range of urgent public health needs such as infectious disease management, fortifying emergency preparedness, providing mental health and substance abuse services, and modernizing public health infrastructure.
Connecticut stands to lose approximately $175 million for a wide range of essential public health, mental health, and addiction services, such as disease outbreak surveillance, newborn screenings, childhood immunizations, and testing for viruses and other pathogens.
The HHS cuts threaten the urgent public health needs of states around the country at a time when emerging disease threats—such as measles and bird flu—are on the rise, Attorney General Tong warned.
“We are suing once again to stop this reckless escalation of Donald Trump’s lawless war on American families and workers,” said Attorney General Tong. “Trump and anti-vax conspiracy theorist Kennedy want to steal $175 million from Connecticut meant to fight infectious disease, combat the opioid and addiction crisis, prevent suicide, and keep Connecticut babies safe. We sued when they tried to defund our police, our schools and our healthcare. We sued when they tried to defund lifesaving research into cures for cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. We sued when unelected billionaire Elon Musk tried to hack our sensitive payment systems and confidential records. And every time, we’ve blocked them and we are going to stay in court for as long as it takes to protect Connecticut families and to stop the destruction of our country.”
Congress authorized and appropriated new and increased funding for these grants in COVID-19-related legislation to support critical public health needs. Many of these grants are from specific programs created by Congress, such as block grants to states for mental health and substance abuse and addiction services. Yet, with no legal authority or explanation, Secretary Kennedy’s HHS agencies on March 24 arbitrarily terminated these grants “for cause” effective immediately claiming that the pandemic is over and the grants are no longer necessary.
In their lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the coalition of attorneys general assert that the mass terminations violate federal law because the end of the pandemic is not a “for cause” basis for ending the grants, especially since none of the appropriated funds are tied to the end of the pandemic which occurred more than a year ago. HHS’ position, up until a few days ago, was that the end of the pandemic did not affect the availability of these grant funds. Moreover, for some of the grants, termination “for cause” is not a permissible basis for termination, yet the federal government unlawfully terminated them.
With this lawsuit, Attorney General Tong and the coalition are seeking a temporary restraining order to invalidate Secretary Kennedy’s and HHS’ mass grant terminations in the suing states, arguing that the actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The states are also asking the court to prevent HHS from maintaining or reinstating the terminations and any agency actions implementing them.
Attorney General Phil Weiser of Colorado, Attorney General Rob Bonta of California, Attorney General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Attorney General Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, and Attorney General Nick Brown of Washington are co-leading the litigation. They are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING TRUMP ATTACK ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding news that President Donald Trump is withholding federal Title X funding for reproductive and primary healthcare at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.
“There is no role for partisan pandering and interference when it comes to our healthcare. Abortion and contraception are safe, legal and accessible in Connecticut, and we’re not about to let Donald Trump change that. This cruel act seeks to abruptly deny healthcare to tens of thousands of women and patients across our state, and we stand with Planned Parenthood to fight back,” said Attorney General Tong.
Tens of thousands of Connecticut patients receive both reproductive healthcare and primary care at clinics operated by PPSNE, including abortion care, contraception, STI testing, cancer screenings and other primary care. Many of those patients are able to access family planning services because of Title X funds. This is not the first time President Trump has attacked Planned Parenthood and tried to defund women’s healthcare under the “gag rule” prohibiting any clinic receiving Title X federal funds from providing or even referring patients for abortion care, even though Planned Parenthood had never used Title X funds to provide abortion care to patients. Attorney General Tong sued to block the Trump Administration in 2019, and the rule was later overturned under the Biden Administration. During the first Trump Administration, the “gag rule” resulted in a dramatic loss of Title X providers and a substantial decrease in healthcare services provided, most notably for low-income patients, minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals living with disabilities, minors, and those living in rural areas. Republican attorneys general sued to block the healthcare funding during the Biden administration, and Attorney General Tong joined states defending the restoration of funding.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 4, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER UNLAWFUL EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING TO IMPOSE SWEEPING VOTING RESTRICTIONS
Voting restrictions are not authorized by U.S. Constitution or Congress
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the federal Election Assistance Commission, and other Trump Administration officials over Executive Order No. 14248 (the Elections Executive Order), an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. Among other things, the Elections Executive Order attempts to conscript State election officials in the President’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans seek to register to vote. It also seeks to upend common-sense, well-established State procedures for counting ballots — procedures that make it easier for peoples’ voices to be heard.
The President has no constitutional power to rewrite State election laws by decree, nor does the President have the authority to modify the rules Congress has created for elections. The coalition’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, explains that the power to regulate elections is reserved to the States and Congress, and that therefore, the Elections Executive Order is ultra vires, beyond the scope of presidential power, and violative of the separation of powers. The attorneys general ask the court to block the challenged provisions of the Elections Executive Order and declare them unconstitutional and void.
“The Constitutional plainly forbids the President from commandeering state election officials to manipulate and micromanage how we vote. We are suing to stop the order and to protect our democracy and our right to cast our ballots in free and fair elections,” said Attorney General Tong.
“We need election policies that protect the rights of all citizens and preserve the integrity of our democracy, not additional unfunded mandates that leave states like Connecticut to bear the astronomical costs of compliance. This executive order only would make voting harder and less accessible, harm election integrity, and increase costs for taxpayers,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.
In their lawsuit, the attorneys general assert that provisions of the Elections Executive Order will cause imminent and irreparable harm to the States if they are not enjoined. The challenged provisions include:
• Forcing the Election Assistance Commission (the Commission) to require documentary proof of citizenship on the Federal mail registration form (the Federal Form). The Commission is an independent, bipartisan, four-member body established by Congress. It is responsible for developing the Federal Form, in consultation with the chief election officers of the States, for the registration of voters for elections for Federal office. In their lawsuit, the attorneys general underscore that Congress has never required documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote using the Federal Form.
• Commanding the head of each state-designated Federal voter registration agency to immediately begin “assess[ing] citizenship prior to providing a Federal voter registration form to enrollees of public assistance programs.” This aspect of the Elections Executive Order commandeers State agencies and their personnel, forcing States to participate in the President’s unlawful and unnecessary agenda.
• Forcing States to alter their ballot counting laws to exclude “absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day.” Consistent with federal law, members of the multistate coalition have exercised their constitutional and statutory authority to determine how to best receive and count votes that are timely cast by mail in federal elections. Many of the Plaintiff States provide for the counting of timely absentee and mail ballots received after Election Day.
• Requiring military and overseas voters to submit documentary proof of citizenship and eligibility to vote in state elections. The Federal Post Card Application form is used by voters in the military or living abroad to register to vote in federal elections. Federal law unequivocally grants them the ability to register and cast a ballot “in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States” — there is no requirement that this form demand documentary proof of citizenship or proof of current eligibility to vote in a particular state.
• Threatening to withhold various streams of federal funding to the States for purported noncompliance with the challenged provisions. In so doing, the Elections Executive Order seeks to control Plaintiff States’ exercise of their sovereign powers through raw Executive domination, contrary to the U.S. Constitution and its underlying principles of federalism and the separation of powers.
In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The litigation was led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
A copy of the complaint can be found here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 4, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER UNLAWFUL EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING TO IMPOSE SWEEPING VOTING RESTRICTIONS
Voting restrictions are not authorized by U.S. Constitution or Congress
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the federal Election Assistance Commission, and other Trump Administration officials over Executive Order No. 14248 (the Elections Executive Order), an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. Among other things, the Elections Executive Order attempts to conscript State election officials in the President’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans seek to register to vote. It also seeks to upend common-sense, well-established State procedures for counting ballots — procedures that make it easier for peoples’ voices to be heard.
The President has no constitutional power to rewrite State election laws by decree, nor does the President have the authority to modify the rules Congress has created for elections. The coalition’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, explains that the power to regulate elections is reserved to the States and Congress, and that therefore, the Elections Executive Order is ultra vires, beyond the scope of presidential power, and violative of the separation of powers. The attorneys general ask the court to block the challenged provisions of the Elections Executive Order and declare them unconstitutional and void.
“The Constitution plainly forbids the President from commandeering state election officials to manipulate and micromanage how we vote. We are suing to stop the order and to protect our democracy and our right to cast our ballots in free and fair elections,” said Attorney General Tong.
“We need election policies that protect the rights of all citizens and preserve the integrity of our democracy, not additional unfunded mandates that leave states like Connecticut to bear the astronomical costs of compliance. This executive order only would make voting harder and less accessible, harm election integrity, and increase costs for taxpayers,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.
In their lawsuit, the attorneys general assert that provisions of the Elections Executive Order will cause imminent and irreparable harm to the States if they are not enjoined. The challenged provisions include:
• Forcing the Election Assistance Commission (the Commission) to require documentary proof of citizenship on the Federal mail registration form (the Federal Form). The Commission is an independent, bipartisan, four-member body established by Congress. It is responsible for developing the Federal Form, in consultation with the chief election officers of the States, for the registration of voters for elections for Federal office. In their lawsuit, the attorneys general underscore that Congress has never required documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote using the Federal Form.
• Commanding the head of each state-designated Federal voter registration agency to immediately begin “assess[ing] citizenship prior to providing a Federal voter registration form to enrollees of public assistance programs.” This aspect of the Elections Executive Order commandeers State agencies and their personnel, forcing States to participate in the President’s unlawful and unnecessary agenda.
• Forcing States to alter their ballot counting laws to exclude “absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day.” Consistent with federal law, members of the multistate coalition have exercised their constitutional and statutory authority to determine how to best receive and count votes that are timely cast by mail in federal elections. Many of the Plaintiff States provide for the counting of timely absentee and mail ballots received after Election Day.
• Requiring military and overseas voters to submit documentary proof of citizenship and eligibility to vote in state elections. The Federal Post Card Application form is used by voters in the military or living abroad to register to vote in federal elections. Federal law unequivocally grants them the ability to register and cast a ballot “in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States” — there is no requirement that this form demand documentary proof of citizenship or proof of current eligibility to vote in a particular state.
• Threatening to withhold various streams of federal funding to the States for purported noncompliance with the challenged provisions. In so doing, the Elections Executive Order seeks to control Plaintiff States’ exercise of their sovereign powers through raw Executive domination, contrary to the U.S. Constitution and its underlying principles of federalism and the separation of powers.
In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The litigation was led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
A copy of the complaint can be found here.
###
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
860-214-0937 (cell)
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 4, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TO STOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ATTACK ON LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND WORKERS
AG Tong Joins Coalition Suing to Stop Dismantling of Federal Agencies That Support Libraries, Museums, Minority-Owned Businesses, and Workers
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide. In March, the Trump administration issued an Executive Order that would dismantle federal agencies created by Congress that collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars for programs in every state. As a result of this Executive Order, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – one of the targeted agencies – has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Tong and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s EO that millions of Americans rely on.
“We are back in court yet again today to block the latest in this never-ending torrent of illegal attacks on our families and workers. We had to sue to stop Trump from defunding our schools and cancer cures, from defunding energy assistance and vaccines, from defunding disaster relief and the police. Now, we have to sue again to stop him from defunding summer reading programs and audiobooks for disabled veterans. This is more lawless and needless hurt inflicted on Connecticut families and workers, and we’re fighting back with everything we’ve got,” said Attorney General Tong.
This Executive Order is the administration’s latest attempt to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congress. Attorney General Tong and the coalition are seeking to stop the dismantling of three agencies targeted in the administration’s Executive Order:
1. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which supports museums and libraries nationwide;
2. The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs; and
3. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which promotes resolution of labor disputes.
As Attorney General Tong and the coalition assert in the lawsuit, dismantling these agencies will have devastating effects on communities throughout Connecticut and the nation that rely on them to provide important services to the public, including funding their libraries, promoting minority-owned businesses, and protecting workers’ rights.
In 2024, IMLS invested $180 million in libraries nationwide under its Grants to States Program. The administration’s action will threaten hundreds of library staff across the country that provide essential services to their communities.
The Connecticut State Library receives $2.2 million in annual funding from IMLS, supporting the salaries of 13 Connecticut workers and programs across Connecticut providing support for early literacy and summer reading, support for veterans and military families, access to eBooks and audiobooks, among other programs. Federal funding supported 8,827 summer reading programs across Connecticut used by 229,470 children and teens last year alone. Loss of federal funding could have an immediate impact on summer reading programs for 2025. More than 5,500 Connecticut patrons rely on federally-funded accessible audio and braille books, including 316 veterans. Federal funding enables free access to more than 50,000 eBooks for all Connecticut residents.
In addition, the Trump administration has cut the staff of MBDA from 40 to just five individuals and has effectively stopped issuing new grants, hurting vulnerable small businesses across the country. The FMCS has slashed its staff from roughly 200 to fewer than 15 individuals and announced the termination of several of its core programs, making it harder for unionized workers to secure their rights.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue that the Executive Order violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating the programs of agencies without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding. The coalition argues that the president cannot decide to unilaterally override laws governing federal spending, and that this Executive Order unconstitutionally overrides Congress’s power to decide how federal funds are spent.
This lawsuit is led by the attorneys general of New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS ANSWERS FROM AVELO AIRLINES REGARDING CONTRACT FLIGHTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today sent a letter to Avelo Airlines expressing his deep disappointment and asking a series of vital questions regarding the company’s decision to enter into a contract to operate charter flights for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“Violent criminals should be arrested, prosecuted, and where appropriate, deported. But Trump’s cruel and reckless deportation program has unlawfully undermined legitimate law enforcement by ensnaring innocent parents, students, and children. And even when Trump’s own lawyers admit to errors, they claim no ability to right their wrongs.
“None of these abusive practices are required to secure our borders, promote public safety, or effectively enforce our immigration laws. These flights are cruel by design and enormously wasteful of taxpayer resources, and no business should be complicit.
“No one is forcing Avelo to operate these flights. If reporting is accurate, Avelo has freely chosen to profit from and facilitate these atrocities. The State of Connecticut has an obligation now to review this business decision and to consider the viability of our choice to support Avelo,” Attorney General Tong states in the letter.
The letter seeks answers to the following questions no later than April 15, 2025.
1. Please provide a copy of Avelo’s contract that relates to its work for Department of Homeland Security, or its agent, contractor or subcontractor.
2. Can Avelo confirm that it will not operate deportation flights from any Connecticut airport?
3. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate flights while non-violent passengers are in shackles, handcuffs, waist chains and/or leg irons and unable to safely evacuate in the event of an emergency?
4. Should restraint be necessary for a specific individual to protect public safety, can Avelo confirm that it will never operate a flight without a safe and timely evacuation strategy for all passengers?
5. Can Avelo confirm it will never operate flights with shackled children?
6. On Saturday, March 15, a federal judge ordered the immediate return of a deportation flight destined for El Salvador operated by GlobalX. The Trump Administration refused to comply. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate deportation flights in defiance of such court orders?
7. Can Avelo confirm it will never operate a deportation flight involving passengers for whom there is no valid order of removal?
8. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate a flight to deport a child born on American soil?
Click here to view the full letter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM HIGH OVERDRAFT FEES
AG Tong and 22 Attorneys General Urge House to Reject Resolution Overturning CFPB’s Rule Limiting Overdraft Fee Charges by Big Banks
Overturning CFPB Rule Faced Bipartisan Opposition in the Senate
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the House Financial Services Committee urging the House to vote against a resolution that would overturn the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 2024 rule limiting overdraft fees imposed by the country’s largest banks. The rule prevents big banks from charging excessive overdraft fees that can hurt their customers’ credit and sometimes lead to account closures.
“Our entire economy is tanking right now thanks to Trump’s idiotic trade war. I’m not aware of anyone—aside from lobbyists for big banks—who thinks this is a good moment for new junk fees and excessive bank penalties for American families,” said Attorney General Tong.
House Joint Resolution 59 would overturn a 2024 rule issued by the CFPB that applies only to banks with over $10 billion in assets. The rule imposes reasonable limits on the overdraft fees these big banks may charge when customers overdraw their accounts. Nevertheless, late last month, the Senate narrowly passed its version of the resolution overturning the CFPB’s rule by a vote of 52-48, with Republican Senator Josh Hawley joining Senate Democrats to vote against it.
The average overdraft fee imposed by banks is about $35 and is usually significantly larger than the overdraft itself. Overdraft fees are also a major profit center for banks, accounting for about $5.8 billion in revenue in 2023. As Attorney General Tong and the coalition state in their letter, under the CFPB’s rule, if banks intend to continue profiting from such fees, they must treat them as interest on a loan, which is what they effectively are. Given that most overdraft fees are paid back in less than three days, a typical fee of $35 on an average overdraft of $26 is the equivalent of an annual interest rate of 16,000 percent.
As Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue in the letter, the CFPB’s rule plays a valuable role in protecting bank customers from excessive and often unexpected charges that can sometimes lead to involuntary account closures, damaging customers’ credit and even driving them out of the banking system altogether. In addition, excessive overdraft fees are unnecessary. As Attorney General Tong and the coalition point out in the letter, many banks – including Citigroup, Capital One, and Ally Bank – have already eliminated overdraft fees while still providing the convenience of overdraft protection.
Joining Attorney General Tong in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection also joined the coalition.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS INFORMATION FROM AVIS BUDGET REGARDING DENIAL OF RENTAL CARS TO CONNECTICUT LICENSE HOLDERS
(Hartford, CT) – The Office of the Attorney General today sent a letter to Avis Budget Group following complaints that vehicle rental locations in Florida may be improperly refusing service to licensed Connecticut drivers.
The websites of Avis, Budget, and Payless suggest that they will refuse to rent vehicles to Connecticut consumers in Florida if they have certain Connecticut driver licenses, including licenses imprinted with “Not for Federal Identification,” claiming such licenses are “not valid for identification purposes” and not “recognized by the State of Florida to drive a vehicle on public roads.” These statements appear only on FAQ pages on the Avis, Budget, and Payless websites but do not appear to be prominently displayed to consumers when making vehicle reservations or providing personal information or payment details.
The Office of the Attorney General has received complaints from Connecticut consumers who have paid deposits and/or shared payment details or other personal information prior to ultimately being denied rental vehicles in Florida.
Denials of service to Connecticut drivers with licenses imprinted “Not for Federal Identification Only” appear based on a misapplication of Florida Statute § 322-033(2), which purports to reject “licenses issued by another state exclusively to undocumented immigrants.” To the contrary, such licenses have been issued since at least 2011 to Connecticut residents who are citizens or otherwise documented residents of the United States. They are valid driver licenses and are not “issued by another state exclusively to undocumented immigrants.”
The letter seeks information from Avis Budget regarding its policies related to Connecticut licenses, disclosures provided to consumers, and complaints from Connecticut consumers.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BEHALF OF FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement in response to a series of executive orders issued this week by President Donald Trump seeking to force the revival of dirty and dangerous energy generation and to block states from lawful efforts to combat the climate crisis.
“This is a war on our environment, waged by a reckless President on behalf of his fossil fuel industry backers who do not care if our air and water are toxic so long as they make money. Decades of scientific consensus prove that the climate threat is real and that we have a limited window now to mitigate its worst harms. Washington has failed for decades to address the climate crisis, and like just about everything else right now, it has fallen on states to protect our families. Donald Trump is happy to do Big Oil’s bidding, but I’m not about to let him stop the sovereign state of Connecticut from doing what is necessary to address this existential threat. The Department of Justice needs to do its job and enforce our nation’s environmental laws, not waste time ‘investigating’ undeniably constitutional state laws,” said Attorney General Tong.
Attorney General Tong further addressed Trump’s ill-conceived plan to revive old-fashioned, dirty and dangerous coal power plants.
“Nothing in this order would save Connecticut families one cent on our energy bills. The reality is, burning coal is expensive and dirty, and it’s been phased out because it just doesn’t make any sense. Like his idiotic trade war, Trump is wasting our money again to serve his ideological whims. The impact of his policies will undoubtably harm people’s health and the environment,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 10, 2025
DANBURY VAPE SHOP RAIDS-- ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, MAYOR ALVES, DANBURY POLICE, STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES ANNOUNCE CONFISCATION OF 55 LBS OF ILLEGAL CANNABIS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, and Department of Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today announced results of a recent raid on Danbury smoke shops, netting approximately 55 pounds of illegal cannabis products from three shops found violating numerous criminal and civil statutes including illegal drug sales, underage sales, labor violations, and tax violations.
The raids were conducted jointly by the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Consumer Protection, Danbury Police Department, State Police, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Revenue Services on April 4.
Shops found in violation include Star Rose Vape & Smoke Shop at 2-4 Mill Ridge Road, All the Smoke at 6 Ives Street, and CT Smoke House at 10 Mill Plain Road.
The owner of All the Smoke, Ronnie Priar, was arrested on April 4 and charged with operating a drug factory and sale of 1 kilo or more of cannabis.
“Legal cannabis is not a free-for-all. If you are unlicensed, if you sell untested, unregulated cannabis, if you sell to minors, we will know, and we will hold you accountable. We will continue to work in lock step with our law enforcement partners throughout state and local government to protect public safety,” said Attorney General Tong.
“Thank you to Attorney General Tong, the Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Departments of Consumer Protection, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Labor, and Revenue Services for assisting the Danbury Police Department in this mission. Restoring safety to the Danbury community and eliminating these risks to our children is my utmost priority. That's why I have added more police officers and resources to our budget year-over-year. Enforcement does not stop here. I will be working with the Attorney General on strengthening our legal right to enforce penalties and further action on businesses caught selling unregulated, illegal substances in Danbury. Criminal activities are not tolerated under my Administration,” said Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves.
“We are committed to a united approach with Attorney General Tong, state agencies, and law enforcement to attack these illegal sales,’’ said Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins. “Working together, we will continue to send a clear message that this is unacceptable in our communities.”
“Thank you to our partner agencies and the City of Danbury for working together to prioritize public health and safety, and in particular, the safety of our children. Government works best when we work together, and these joint efforts are a great example of that. As always we remind adults 21 and older who choose to consume cannabis to do so legally and responsibly,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli.
CT Dept. of Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said, “These joint operations require significant coordination and cooperation. I commend CTDOL Wage and Workplace Division investigators and all our law enforcement, municipal, and agency partners. Shutting down bad actors helps CTDOL protect the workforce as well as all the businesses that operate above board and in compliance with the law.”
Star Rose operates under the same ownership as Zaza Smoke Shop 2, operating under a stipulated judgement with the Office of the Attorney General following prior violations. Zaza paid a $25,000 civil penalty to the State in 2024 and is subject to a suspended civil penalty of another $35,000 if found in violation of the judgment. The Office of the Attorney General is evaluating all legal options to enforce the judgment, including filing a motion for contempt in Superior Court.
Due to the ongoing criminal and civil investigations, further details are being withheld.
Residents over age 21 can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut. Cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. For example, packaging for edible cannabis products must be uniformly white and cannot be visually similar to any commercially similar product that does not contain cannabis. Cannabis products sold outside of the regulated market continue to be illegal and may subject sellers to civil and criminal penalties.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 10, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG WARNS 9 PHONE PROVIDERS OVER CONTINUED UNLAWFUL ROBOCALL TRAFFIC
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and the 51 bipartisan attorneys general of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force notified nine voice service providers that they may be violating state and federal laws by continuing to route allegedly unlawful robocalls across their networks. These warning letters include information about the task force’s investigation and analysis of each provider’s illegal and/or suspicious robocall traffic.
“These robocall middlemen have facilitated a flood of scam calls to American phones, abused by fraudsters impersonating governments and businesses to steal money and personal information. These nine companies are on notice-- stop facilitating illegal robocall traffic now, or we’re coming after you with the full weight of 51 attorneys general. Robocalls are more than just a nuisance, they facilitate fraud with the potential to inflict serious financial harm. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up, do not engage, and report it,” said Attorney General Tong.
Help bolster investigations in Connecticut by reporting your robocalls to www.ct.gov/agcomplaints. Connecticut’s website complaint intake is enabled to gather robocall-specific complaint data.
In addition to sending these warning notices and demanding that these companies stop transmitting illegal robocalls, the task force has also shared its concerns about these providers with it federal law enforcement partners, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The task force sent warning letters to the following companies:
Global Net Holdings. Global Net Holdings received at least 153 traceback notices for illegal and suspicious robocalls about government and financial imposters and impersonations, Amazon suspicious charges, credit card interest rate reductions, Medicare scams, Chinese package delivery scams, cable discount scams, utility disconnect scams, and others.
All Access Telecom. All Access Telecom received more than 356 traceback notices since the end of 2023 for illegal and suspicious robocalls about political impersonations, cable discount scams, government and financial imposters, Amazon suspicious charges, credit card “courtesy” calls, and others.
Lingo Telecom. Lingo received more than 105 traceback notices since the end of 2023 over robocalls involving Social Security imposters, utility disconnects, Amazon suspicious charges, student loans, and others.
NGL Communications. NGL Communications received at least 100 traceback notices since the end of 2023 for robocalls about COVID financial relief, student loan forgiveness, debt relief, DirecTV discounts, credit card interest rate reductions, and others.
Range. Range received more than 590 traceback notices since 2019 for robocalls about utilities rebates, Medicare advisors, financial impersonations and credit card interest rate reductions, auto warranties, and others.
RSCom Ltd. RSCom received nearly 1,000 traceback notices since 2019 for scam calls about tax relief, private entity imposters, utilities disconnects, travel scams, student loan forgiveness, and others.
Telcast Network. Telcast received at least 800 traceback notices about illegal and suspicious robocalls about financial and utility imposters, utilities rebates, Medicare advisors, Amazon, tax relief, and others.
ThinQ Technologies. ThinQ Technologies (known as Commio) received more than 500 traceback notices since 2019 about government imposters, debt relief/financing, loan approvals, Amazon suspicious charges, student loan forgiveness, DirecTV discounts, sweepstakes, and others.
Telcentris. Telcentris (known as Voxox) received more than 400 traceback notices since 2019 about scam calls about Social Security imposters, Amazon scam, student loans, and others.
Copies of the warning letters are available here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP ILLEGAL TARIFFS
Joins Lawsuit Filed by 12 Attorneys General to Block Illegal Tariffs that are Increasing Prices and Inflicting Chaos on the American Economy
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of attorneys general suing to block President Trump’s illegal tariffs. The case challenges four of President Trump’s executive orders that claim the power to increase tariffs worldwide without congressional action.
“Trump’s lawless and chaotic tariffs are a massive tax on Connecticut families and a disaster for Connecticut businesses and jobs. He is destroying our strong economy and robbing from working families to enrich his Mar-a-Lago billionaire cronies. The Constitution is clear-- Trump has no authority to wage this brainless trade war and we are suing in the Court of International Trade to stop this,” said Attorney General Tong.
The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s executive orders calling for higher tariffs on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 145 percent tariff on most products from China, a 25 percent tariff on most products from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. It also challenges President Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 46 other trading partners on July 9.
Studies of the tariffs President Trump issued in his first term show that 95 percent of the cost of tariffs are paid by Americans. The Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund project that this round of tariffs will cause inflation.
According to the non-partisan Yale Budget Lab, the tariffs will increase annual costs for consumers by $4,900 per household. Tariffs disproportionately impact clothing and textiles, according to their analysis. Consumers will pay 87 percent more for shoes and 65 percent more for clothing in the short-term. Their analysis found that the tariffs will shrink the American economy by $180 billion annually, and increase unemployment by 0.6 percent. Food prices will be 2.6 percent higher in the short-term, with fresh produce jumping 5.4 percent. Motor vehicles will rise 12 percent in the short-term, and 15 percent in the longer-term, adding $7,400 to the price of an average new car.
Under Article I of the Constitution, only Congress has the “Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” The executive orders cite the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but that law applies only when an emergency presents “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad and does not give the President the power to impose tariffs. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977. No President had imposed tariffs based on IEEPA until President Trump did so this year.
The case is entitled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. and was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
The case is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 24, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, EAST HAVEN MAYOR MARTIN URGE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ILLEGAL CANNABIS SALES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, East Haven Mayor Connor S. Martin and East Hartford Assistant Police Chief Joshua Litwin held a press conference today to urge passage of legislation to strengthen state and local enforcement against illegal cannabis sales.
House Bill No. 7181, An Act Concerning Enforcement of The State’s Cannabis, Hemp and Tobacco Laws, would strengthen both civil and criminal laws regarding illegal cannabis sales. Among several provisions, the bill would make it a class E felony for a cannabis shop to sell synthetic cannabis or to sell cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia to anyone under the age of 21. The bill would incentivize municipalities in pursuing civil actions against bad actor retailers by enabling cities and towns to retain all civil penalties from illegal cannabis civil enforcement actions. Penalties are currently shared with the state. The bill would further create a new state Hemp and Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce to strengthen existing collaboration across state agencies and municipalities in cannabis enforcement actions.
Residents age 21 and over can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut, but cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. Despite those laws, illegal sale of high-THC cannabis products continues in Connecticut. In unannounced visits and raids, state and local law enforcement routinely find illegal cannabis products for sale, including untested and unsafe edibles, blunts and marijuana flower.
“Legal cannabis is not a free-for-all. If you are unlicensed, if you sell untested unregulated cannabis, if you sell to minors, you are breaking the law. This legislation gives state and local law enforcement new stronger mechanisms and incentives to hold bad actors accountable and to protect public safety,” said Attorney General Tong.
"I am happy to support legislation that preserves quality of life for East Hartford residents, and that includes enforcing legalized cannabis regulations, while also supporting local businesses that follow legal processes and procedures. This proposed legislation will provide more tools to support our local efforts to address unregulated practices,” said East Hartford Mayor Connor S. Martin.
“The goal of legalizing adult cannabis use was to establish a safe, regulated marketplace that protects consumers and supports legitimate businesses. Those who choose to operate outside of this legal framework undermine these efforts and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful to Attorney General Tong for his continued commitment to enforcing these laws and ensuring that the legal cannabis market has the opportunity to succeed,” said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas.
"Establishing a cannabis and hemp enforcement task force will enhance the regulation of these products among our youth," said Rep. Henry Genga. "I support House Bill 7181 because I believe it parallels existing laws that support and protect young people."
“Illegal cannabis sales on the black market pose a direct threat to public health. If people are going to use cannabis, our state provides safely grown and cultivated products that have been tested and verified, as compared to the potential for synthetic, unsafe or altered substances on the street – especially when those products could be accessed by underage users, worsening health impacts. I’m glad our state is focused on protecting the public and ensuring proper, responsible use of cannabis for those using the substance,” said Senator Saud Anwar.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 24, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, EAST HARTFORD MAYOR MARTIN URGE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ILLEGAL CANNABIS SALES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, East Hartford Mayor Connor S. Martin and East Hartford Assistant Police Chief Joshua Litwin held a press conference today to urge passage of legislation to strengthen state and local enforcement against illegal cannabis sales.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 25, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER UNLAWFUL CONDITIONS ON FUNDING FOR K-12 SCHOOLS
Nearly $400 million in federal financial assistance at risk in Connecticut
(Hartford, CT) –Attorney General William Tong today, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat to withhold federal funding from state and local agencies that refuse to abandon lawful programs and policies that promote equal access to education in K-12 classrooms across the nation. On April 3, 2025, the Department of Education informed state and local agencies that they must accept the Trump Administration’s new and legally incoherent interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts — or else risk immediate and catastrophic loss of federal education funds. Connecticut, like many other states, refused to certify its compliance with these new requirements, explaining that there is no lawful or practical way to do so given the Department’s vague, contradictory, and unsupported interpretation of Title VI. In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Tong and the coalition seek to bar the Department from withholding any funding based on these unlawful conditions.
Connecticut responded to the U.S. Department of Education on April 16, affirming that Connecticut “already does and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
“There is just no question that Connecticut schools have and will continue to comply with federal civil rights laws. From the start, this has been about Trump and Linda McMahon trying to force their MAGA ideology on Connecticut students and teachers by unlawfully withholding our taxpayer dollars. This is illegal and deeply destructive, and we’re not going to let Trump and McMahon rob from our schools and imperil our children’s futures,” said Attorney General Tong.
The U.S. Department of Education provides Connecticut with nearly $400 million in congressionally mandated financial support each year for a wide variety of needs and services related to children and education. This funding includes financial support to ensure that students from low-income families have the same access to high-quality education as their peers, provide special education services, recruit and train highly skilled and dedicated teachers, fund programming for non-native speakers to learn English, and provide support to vulnerable children in foster care and without housing. As a condition of receiving these funds, state and local education agencies provide written assurances they will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin, and Connecticut has consistently and regularly certified its compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulations.
However, on April 3, the Department of Education issued a letter that conditioned continued federal financial assistance on state and local education agencies certifying that they are not operating programs inconsistent with the Trump Administration’s view that efforts supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion are unlawful. The letter forced state and local agencies to choose between two untenable options: (1) refuse to certify compliance based on the Department’s un-defined viewpoint on what constitutes unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, curriculum, instruction, and policies, and place federal funding in peril or (2) certify compliance, attempt to identify and eliminate lawful diversity, equity, and inclusion to the detriment of students, and still face liability for failing to fully comply with the Department’s vague and ill-defined order. Faced with this choice, Connecticut informed the Department that it continues to stand by its prior certifications of compliance with Title VI and its lawfully issued implementing regulations in the Department’s possession but would not assent to the unlawfully issued certification.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General Tong and the multistate coalition assert that the Department of Education’s attempt to terminate federal education funding based on its misinterpretation of Title VI violates the Spending Clause, the Appropriations Clause, the separation of powers, and the Administrative Procedures Act.
Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Washington in filing the lawsuit.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 28, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ISSUES FORMAL OPINION 2025-01 ON ARPA FUNDS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued formal opinion 2025-01 on the question of whether the transfer of interest on ARPA funds from the Treasurer’s Interest Credit Program to the General Fund violates Special Act 21-1.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG TO SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF AMERICORPS
AmeriCorps volunteers address critical local needs, create public good, foster belonging
(Hartford, CT) —Attorney General William Tong, as part of a multistate coalition, announced he will file a lawsuit today challenging the Trump Administration’s termination of AmeriCorps grants and the dismantling of the agency though an 85 percent reduction of its workforce, effectively ending the agency’s ability to continue administering the programs, operations, and funding that make its important work possible. AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly address the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs — every year, the agency provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities.
“Gutting AmeriCorps is an irrational, cruel and lawless blow to communities across Connecticut and the proud, longstanding tradition of giving back in our country. AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers in Connecticut help keep food pantries running, tutor children, assist homebound seniors, support our veterans, help combat the opioid epidemic, and more. Trump has zero authority to bypass Congress to unilaterally dismantle this important work,” said Attorney General Tong.
“AmeriCorps’ hard-working volunteers across Connecticut have supported a variety of critical needs in our state from disaster recovery to public health outreach to youth mentoring. Trump and Musk are recklessly decimating community programs with proven success— another gut punch to dedicated public servants. Patriotic volunteers simply seek to give back to our nation and deserve better than Trump’s back of the hand. This cruel, shortsighted step shortchanges the nation, and I am pleased to see Attorney General Tong challenge these draconian cuts in the courts,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
“Slashing a program that puts thousands of young Americans to work serving their country and communities is downright reckless—it cripples disaster relief, undercuts education, and weakens public health where it’s needed most,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). “If you’re cutting national service while handing tax breaks to billionaires, you’re not serving the country—you’re serving yourself and your megarich buddies.”
“President Trump and Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ is dismantling AmeriCorps by firing workers, dismissing volunteers nationwide, and terminating hundreds of millions of dollars in approved funding for youth, senior, and veterans’ services. No administration has the right to shutter these programs without support from Congress. I applaud Attorney General Tong and the coalition of states suing in court to protect our nation’s premiere national service agency from these drastic cuts and stand with the volunteers, including Connecticut residents, who were dismissed with no explanation by the Trump Administration,” said Congressman John Larson (CT-1).
“State attorneys general are once again taking an important case to court to reverse Elon Musk’s unconstitutional decision to decimate AmeriCorps. I’m all for making our government work more efficiently, but indiscriminately slashing yet another agency that provides essential services to children, seniors, and veterans – including eastern CT’s highly successful Veterans’ Coffee House program – will not achieve that goal. The free rein Elon Musk and DOGE have been given to cut services without oversight is irresponsible and cruel,” said Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2).
“The Trump Administration’s decision to dismiss National Civilian Community Corps student volunteers and move forward with mass layoffs at AmeriCorps is an attack on public service and civic engagement,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3). “These young people commit themselves to disaster relief, environmental protection, and community rebuilding. That is not waste. It’s exactly what government should do-improve the lives of Americans. I thank Attorney General Tong for continuing to fight back in court against hurtful policies like this one.”
“Elon and DOGE seem to think AmeriCorps volunteers – who selflessly dedicate themselves to their fellow Americans by aiding in disaster recovery, delivering meals to the elderly, and supporting our veterans – qualify as waste, fraud, and abuse. He, and the rest of the officials involved need to justify that assessment before a judge and the American people. I’m proud that Connecticut, alongside a coalition of other states, is fighting back against the Trump Administration’s unlawful termination of the AmeriCorps’ staff and funding,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4).
"AmeriCorps programs are vital in empowering people to collaborate with local and state entities, addressing the most pressing challenges in our communities. The actions from the Executive Office and DOGE will disrupt essential services and betray the commitment to making a difference through service and volunteerism that AmeriCorps embodies. I support efforts by the attorneys general in challenging these absurd and ill-willed actions by the administration. It is imperative we ensure that AmeriCorps can continue its crucial work and that the intent of Congress in funding this organization is upheld,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5).
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve communities and by awarding grants to local and national organizations and agencies which use funding to address critical community needs. These organizations and agencies use AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide. AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved the physical and mental well-being of millions of Americans.
In early February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate in large-scale reductions in force. Since then, AmeriCorps has placed at least 85 percent of its workforce on administrative leave immediately and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025.
On April 25th, Connecticut received notice from the federal government of termination of its AmeriCorps grant programs which support volunteer and service effort.
In the complaint today, Attorney General Tong and a multistate coalition argue that by abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce, the Trump Administration is effectively shuttering the national volunteer agency and ending states’ abilities to support AmeriCorps programs within their borders.
The coalition establishes that the Trump Administration has acted unlawfully in its gutting of AmeriCorps, violating both the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. Congress has created AmeriCorps and the programs it administers, and the President cannot incapacitate the agency’s ability to administer appropriated grants or carry out statutorily assigned duties. Further, by dismantling AmeriCorps and its programs, which are creatures of Congress, The Trump Administration’s has violated the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed.
As of the 2024 program year, AmeriCorps engaged 2,255 members and volunteers across 253 service locations throughout Connecticut, contributing to a total investment of $12.4 million in the state. Locally, AmeriCorps programs secured over $2.9 million in external funding from businesses, foundations, public agencies, and other sources across Connecticut. This local investment amplified community impact and enhanced the value of taxpayer contributions.
AmeriCorps programs in Connecticut address critical community needs through various initiatives:
• Education: Members support early childhood education, literacy programs, and college readiness initiatives.
• Public Health: Volunteers engage in health education, nutrition assistance, and mental health support services.
• Economic Opportunity: Programs focus on workforce development, financial literacy, and housing assistance.
• Disaster Services: Members assist in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
• Environmental Stewardship: Initiatives include conservation projects and environmental education.
• Veterans and Military Families: AmeriCorps Seniors organizes and manages Veterans Coffeehouses across the state. These gatherings offer veterans and their families a welcoming environment to connect, share experiences, and access essential resources.
After successfully completing service, AmeriCorps members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for qualified educational costs. Since 1994, more than 17,000 Connecticut residents have served approximately 25 million hours and earned education awards totaling more than $63.3 million. Higher education institutions and other organizations in Connecticut have received more than $18.9 million in education awards since 1994.
In bringing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of Maryland, Delaware, California, Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS OPEN LETTER TO LEGAL COMMUNITY REGARDING LAW FIRM CAPITULATIONS TO TRUMP’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL THREATS AGAINST LAWYERS
Letter Calls on Law Firms to Uphold Core Constitutional Principles in the Face of the Trump Administration’s Attacks
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong joined an open letter to the legal community that expresses support for law firms that have fought back against President Trump’s unconstitutional attempts to target law firms for advocacy the Trump Administration disfavors, and that expresses the coalition’s profound disappointment that several of the country’s largest law firms have capitulated in the face of these dangerous attacks on the rule of law.
The open letter to the legal community comes as President Trump has issued unconstitutional executive orders targeting several law firms for their advocacy, and as some of the nation’s largest law firms have struck “deals” with the President and his Administration that commit the firms to provide free legal services to support the Trump Administration’s priorities.
“Donald Trump’s attempts to bully the legal profession into silence and submission leave no choice but to fight back. He relentlessly targets attorneys to exact political revenge on those who defended the integrity of our elections. He arrests and perp-walks a sitting judge on the thinnest of charges. He mocks and defies court orders. These are foundational attacks on not just our legal profession—but on the rule of law itself. I do not minimize for one second just how hard this is, but we must never surrender, never quit and never back down,” said Attorney General Tong.
In the letter, the coalition of attorneys general explains that President Trump’s executive orders plainly violate the Constitution. The executive orders retaliate against lawyers based on protected speech and association, and they discriminate based on viewpoint. The orders also are inconsistent with the right to effective counsel, offend basic principles of due process, and undermine bedrock rule-of-law principles. The letter points out that these unconstitutional attacks on the legal profession are an attack on our justice system and pave the way towards authoritarianism.
In the letter, the coalition highlights that four law firms – Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey – have filed suit against the Trump Administration for the President’s illegal actions and have succeeded in obtaining court orders temporarily blocking these orders.
The letter calls upon other law firms and lawyers to join the four law firms who have fought back against these unconstitutional executive orders, along with their counsel, current and former General Counsel of leading companies, former judges, law professors, and the more than 800 other law firms that have joined amicus briefs in those cases. The letter urges other law firms and lawyers to reject the path taken by the firms that have capitulated to President Trump, and it invites law firms to stand together with the coalition of attorneys general in preserving the integrity of our legal system.
The Attorneys General of New Jersey, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia signed the letter.
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Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 1, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES $4.93 MILLION JUDGMENT AGAINST PLANET ZAZA OF EAST HAVEN AFTER PERSISTENT ILLEGAL CANNABIS SALES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong announced today he has secured a $4.93 million judgment against Planet Zaza of East Haven and its owner, Mohamed Alraishani in his personal capacity, following persistent illegal cannabis sales in spite of a court order and repeated law enforcement visits. This is the largest civil penalty ever imposed in Connecticut for illegal cannabis sales, underscoring the egregious nature of Planet Zaza’s misconduct.
“The State of Connecticut is not playing around. Legal cannabis is not a free-for-all. If you are unlicensed, if you sell untested, unregulated cannabis, we will find you and we will hold you accountable,” said Attorney General Tong.
“Licensed cannabis establishments are the only businesses allowed to sell cannabis in Connecticut,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “Adults who choose to consume cannabis are reminded to make purchases through the regulated market, and practice safe consumption and storage. Thank you, as always, to our partners at the Office of the Attorney General and the East Haven Police Department for their collaboration and commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
Attorney General Tong first sued Planet Zaza and Mohamed Alraishani in January 2024 for violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, after multiple unannounced inspections conducted by the Department of Consumer Protection and Office of the Attorney General found numerous high-THC cannabis edibles, including those more potent than any authorized for sale in Connecticut. Investigators also discovered unauthorized labels, including fake prescription labels falsely indicating that the store was a licensed dispensary and that the illegal products were medical-use cannabis. The products were not produced in a licensed facility or tested in accordance with state law, and many contained youth-appealing packaging.
These illegal sales persisted after the complaint was filed, and after multiple visits from DCP and the East Haven Police Department.
On November 12, 2024, the judge issued a temporary injunction, ordering Planet Zaza and Alraishani to cease illegal sales, but Planet Zaza and Alraishani ignored the court’s order.
The Office of the Attorney General sought penalties of $5,000 per day for everyday Planet Zaza and Alraishani offered for sale cannabis products in violation of CUTPA. Due to the egregious nature of Planet Zaza and Alraishani’s misconduct and the ongoing threat to public safety, the court this week ordered Planet Zaza and Alraishani to pay $5,000 for each of the 621 days they willfully violated CUTPA, and $25,000 for each of the 73 days the defendants violated the court’s temporary injunction, for a total civil penalty of $4.93 million. The Attorney General’s Office would like to thank the Department of Consumer Protection and the East Haven Police Department for their assistance in this matter.
Residents age 21 and over can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut, but cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. Despite those laws, illegal sale of high-THC cannabis products continues in Connecticut. In unannounced visits and raids, state and local law enforcement routinely find illegal cannabis products for sale, including untested and unsafe edibles, blunts and marijuana flower.
This is the largest civil judgment levied against a smoke shop for illegal cannabis sales, but not the first. Prior to this judgment, Attorney General Tong obtained judgments totaling $300,000 against nine retailers and wholesalers.
Under new amendments to the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis (RERACA), businesses and individuals selling cannabis without a cannabis establishment license are subject to an even greater fine of $30,000 per day.
Assistant Attorneys General Addison Keilty and Michael Nunes and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer, Chief of the Consumer Protection Section assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 1, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RESTORE TITLE X FUNDING
Today marks one month since HHS suddenly decided to withhold vast amounts of Title X funding
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in sending a letter to the Trump Administration to express serious concern with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to withhold tens of millions of dollars in Title X funding. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, Title X is the nation’s only federal program dedicated to family planning for low-income and uninsured individuals. On March 31, HHS issued letters to a wide range of grant recipients that fund nearly 25 percent of all Title X clinics, indicating that these grantees’ Title X grants were being withheld. In today’s letter, the attorneys general write that the withholding of funds will lead to more unintended pregnancies, more sexually transmitted infections (STIs), increased rates of undiagnosed HIV, increased rates of cervical cancer, and a higher burden on over-stretched state budgets. The attorneys general urge HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately reverse this decision and fully fund these critical programs.
“There is no role for partisan pandering and interference when it comes to our healthcare. Withholding Title X funding to clinics in Connecticut will only make it harder for patients to access contraception, primary care and STI screenings. It’s yet another politically motivated move by this President to make us sicker and poorer, and there’s no justification for it,” said Attorney General Tong.
In certain States — including California, Hawai‘i, and Maine — all Title X funds were withheld, meaning that Title X funding has now completely ceased in those States. Everywhere, States must scramble to fill the gaps as healthcare providers who have long been a cornerstone of the Title X program have been suddenly shut out. If State and local governments are not able to make up for the federal shortfall, patients will see a reduction in services as clinics close and providers are terminated. This will fall particularly hard on poor and rural communities that are the primary beneficiaries of the Title X program. In many areas, a Title X clinic is the only source of pre-natal services and screening for STIs.
In Connecticut, $1.89 million in Title X funds have been withheld from Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. Through the Title X program, each year approximately 42,000 Connecticut patients receive both reproductive healthcare and primary care at clinics operated by PPSNE, including contraception, STI testing, cancer screenings and other primary care. Planned Parenthood has never used Title X funds to provide abortion care to patients.
In the letter, the attorneys general write that:
• Recent history demonstrates that cutting Title X grantees will worsen care. In 2019, the Trump Administration changed the rules governing Title X, leading to a mass loss of healthcare providers. As a result, the number of patients receiving Title X services fell drastically. Nationwide, the number of Title X patients fell more than 60%, from 3.9 million to 1.5 million. This recent history demonstrates what happens — and how quickly — when the federal government slashes access to Title X. Unfortunately, there is every reason to think that the Trump Administration’s recent withholding will have at least as bad an impact on patient care. In total, the Guttmacher Institute estimates that as a direct result of HHS’s action in withholding funds, at least 834,000 patients, representing 30% of the total population served, will lose care in the first year alone.
• The States will be harmed by HHS’s decision. While the 2019 rule was in effect, many States were forced to make emergency appropriations to cover for the loss of providers. The States made these expenditures because Title X programs are a critical component of vital public health infrastructure. An important example is the role of Title X programs in detecting and preventing STIs. Between 2006 and 2010, 18% of all women who were tested, treated, or received counseling for an STI did so at a Title X clinic, as did 14% of women tested for HIV. Now, the States are once again faced with an impossible choice: dip once again into depleted public coffers to make up the difference, or deal with a surge in new STIs and unintended pregnancies.
• There is no justification for the terminations. Although HHS suggested Title X grantees violated federal civil rights laws, HHS has provided absolutely no evidence supporting this suggestion.
In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. The letter was co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne E. Lopez.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 5, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement in support of striking Pratt & Whitney machinists.
“I strongly stand with the hardworking machinists at Pratt & Whitney and their families in fighting for fair wages, benefits, and job security. The skilled and dedicated Pratt & Whitney machinists working in both Middletown and East Hartford power our nation’s defense and aerospace industry. They are a backbone of Connecticut’s economy, and I urge leadership to return to the table for open, good faith negotiations on a fair contract,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 5, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR HALTING DEVELOPMENT OF WIND ENERGY
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its unlawful attempt to freeze the development of wind energy.
“This is yet another lawless effort by Donald Trump to enrich the fossil fuel industry and illegally micromanage state business. Connecticut has the right to secure our energy future, and one that makes the most sense for our costs and climate,” said Attorney General Tong.
On January 20, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum that, among other things, indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore wind energy projects pending federal review. Pursuant to this directive, federal agencies have stopped all permitting and approval activities, and in one case, have even stopped a fully permitted project in New York that had already begun construction. Wind energy is a homegrown source of reliable, affordable energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creates billions of dollars in economic activity and tax payments, and supplies more than 10% of the country’s electricity.
The attorneys general allege that the President’s directive harms their states’ efforts to secure reliable, diversified, and affordable sources of energy to meet their increasing demand for electricity and help reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, meet clean energy goals, and address climate change. The directive also threatens to thwart the states’ significant investments in wind industry infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce development—investments that already total billions of dollars.
The coalition argues that the President’s directive and federal agencies’ subsequent implementation of it violate the Administrative Procedure Act and other federal laws because they, among other things, provide no reasoned explanation for categorically and indefinitely halting all wind energy development—a sudden change that reverses longstanding federal policy and is inconsistent with recent federal action propping up other forms of energy. The lawsuit also alleges that the abrupt halt on all permitting violates numerous federal statutes that prescribe specific procedures and timelines for federal permitting and approvals—procedures the Administration wholly disregarded in stopping wind-energy development altogether.
In filing this lawsuit, the attorneys general are asking the Court to declare the President’s directive illegal and prevent the Administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.
Joining Attorney General Tong in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York, Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Assistant Attorney General Jill Lacedonia and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section, are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG FILES MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO HALT IMPLEMENTATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S UNLAWFUL ELECTIONS EXECUTIVE ORDER
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration from implementing Executive Order No. 14248 (Executive Order), an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. Among other things, the Executive Order attempts to conscript state election officials in the President’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration, and withholds various streams of federal funding to the States if they fail to comply. The Executive Order also diverts essential election resources from Connecticut’s preparation for the 2025 municipal and special elections and the planning for the 2026 state and federal elections.
On April 3, the attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the Executive Order. The lawsuit underscores that the power to regulate elections rests exclusively with the States and Congress — not the President. Since then, the Trump Administration has begun taking steps to implement the Executive Order. In their motion for a preliminary injunction, the attorneys general argue that they are likely to win on the merits of their lawsuit, that their States have unique and profound interests at stake in the litigation, and that their States will suffer irreparable harms without court-ordered relief.
“The Constitution forbids the President from commandeering state election officials to manipulate and micromanage how we vote. We sued to stop the order and to protect our right to cast our ballots in free and fair elections, and now we are asking the court to immediately block Trump from implementing this lawless attack on our democracy,” said Attorney General Tong.
“As I’ve said before, this executive order is bad for Connecticut voters, bad for Connecticut taxpayers, and bad for Connecticut overall,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. “It goes against states’ rights to run their own elections, creates added and unnecessary steps for election workers without the needed training or funding, and will make voting and voter registration less safe and accessible here. We need the courts to step in to protect Connecticut’s rights and values.”
In their motion for a preliminary injunction, the attorneys general explain that the Executive Order acutely injures their States’ compelling interest in the integrity of their election processes. For instance, the documentary proof of citizenship requirements have necessitated an immediate response from state and local elections officials, who must consider how to carry out their voter registration duties subject to the new requirements by meeting with their staff, speaking with local elections officials, and beginning to plan for a near future with the requirements in place — or risk the loss of federal funding.
The Executive Order threatens millions of dollars in federal funding to protect Connecticut elections from malicious actors, to improve election administration, and to expand voting. From 2018-2022, Connecticut received $11,876,298 in federal election security funds. From May 31, 2023 to September 30, 2027, Connecticut anticipates receiving $2 million in election security funding, as well as additional election security funding provided through federal grants to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and funding to support college students working polls on Election Day. Connecticut recently spent $20 million to replace twenty-year old voting tabulators in all 169 towns. It is unclear whether those tabulators would comply with the new Trump orders, which impose vague requirements for a “voter-verifiable paper record.”
In filing the motion for a preliminary injunction, Attorney General Tong joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
A copy of the motion can be found here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS COURT ORDER TO STOP THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ILLEGAL TARIFFS
Joins Motion Filed by 12 Attorneys General to Halt Illegal Tariffs that are Increasing Prices and Inflicting Chaos on the American Economy
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt implementation of President Trump’s illegal tariffs. The motion seeks a court order pausing the tariffs imposed under four of President Trump’s executive orders without congressional action.
“Trump’s lawless and chaotic tariffs are already wreaking havoc on family budgets, store shelves and hiring. This is a brainless, self-inflicted attack on our economy. We already sued in the Court of International Trade to protect Connecticut businesses and jobs, and now we’re asking the court to step in and immediately halt Trump’s massive taxes,” said Attorney General Tong.
The motion asks the U.S. Court of International Trade to order federal agencies to stop collecting illegal tariffs President Trump imposed on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 145 percent tariff on most products from China, a 25 percent tariff on most products from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. It also asks the Court to put on hold President Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 56 other trading partners on July 9.
Economic analysis submitted to the court shows that state and local governments in the 12 states joining the motion stand to pay at least $3.4 billion per year in additional costs due to the tariffs. The states also submitted a Federal Reserve report noting that businesses “expected elevated input cost growth resulting from tariffs” and that “Most businesses expected to pass through additional costs to customers.”
Under Article I of the Constitution, only Congress has the “Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” The executive orders cite the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but that law applies only when an emergency presents “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad and does not give the President the power to impose tariffs. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977. No President had imposed tariffs based on IEEPA until President Trump did so this year.
The case is entitled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. (Case No. 1:25-cv-00077-GSK-TMR-JAR) and is pending before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade.
The case is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.
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Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 8, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS WHISTLEBLOWER SUIT AGAINST CVS PHARMACY FOR OVERBILLING MEDICAID FOR PRESCRIPTIONS
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong announced today that Connecticut has joined a whistleblower suit and filed a complaint in intervention against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. alleging the pharmacy fraudulently overbilled state Medicaid programs for prescription drugs dispensed at its retail pharmacies. Massachusetts, Indiana and Oklahoma have also joined as intervenors.
The Connecticut Medicaid program is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage, including prescription drugs, to low-income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities in Connecticut.
The complaint centers around state regulations that ensure pharmacies and providers do not charge Medicaid more than they charge other customers for the same prescriptions and services. Starting around 2010, certain pharmacies began offering loyalty or discount programs to customers on a “membership” basis. These programs offer lower prices for customers who paid without insurance. In response, Connecticut updated its law to explicitly clarify that a pharmacy must bill Medicaid its lowest discount program price.
Connecticut alleges that CVS, starting in 2016, transitioned the administration of its discount program to a third-party vendor, and continued to bill Medicaid at the higher prices. An investigation conducted by the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General identified specific prescription drugs for which the state Medicaid program paid more than customers using discount cards were charged for those same drugs.
“Connecticut’s laws exist to ensure fair, transparent drug pricing in Medicaid. CVS knew those laws, and they did not comply. We are committed to protecting the integrity of our taxpayer-funded healthcare programs,” said Attorney General Tong.
The case is captioned United States et al. ex rel. Doe v. CVS Health Corporation et al., No. 1:16-cv-02359, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the state and federal False Claims Acts, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the government for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The act permits the government to intervene and take over responsibility for litigating these cases, as Connecticut has done here.
Assistant Attorneys General Eric Babbs and Christine Miller, Forensic Fraud Examiner Lisa Bailey and Gregory O’Connell, Chief of the Government Fraud Section are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 8, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS HOUSE APPROVAL OF LEGISLATION TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVING
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released a statement following a unanimous vote in the House of Representatives to advance legislation to increase penalties for reckless driving. The legislation, proposed by Attorney General Tong, would subject extreme reckless drivers—those who exceed one-hundred miles per hour—to the temporary forfeiture of their vehicles after a prior conviction.
“Every day, on roads and highways across Connecticut, reckless drivers are putting our families at risk. From excessive speeding and reckless lane changes to distracted and intoxicated driving, this brazen lawlessness puts all of us in danger. Tonight’s unanimous vote sends a powerful bipartisan message to those who ignore our laws and imperil our safety—this reckless misconduct will not be tolerated. I look forward to working with the Senate to get this over the finish line,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES $495,721 FALSE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT WITH DENTISTS OVER PROHIBITED PATIENT RECRUITING FEES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut today announced a $495,721 false claims settlement with Norwalk-based Advanced Dental Center PC (“Advanced Dental”), and its owners Tal Yossefi and Elad Yossefi, resolving allegations that they violated state and federal False Claims Act statutes through prohibited fees paid to a “patient recruiting” company.
This is the fourth settlement arising from ongoing joint civil investigations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the federal Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into alleged kickback-tainted claims for services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred by third-party patient recruiting companies.
Advanced Dental is enrolled in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CMAP”), which includes the Connecticut Medicaid program. From July 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, Advance Dental is alleged to have paid a third-party patient recruiting company $120 for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the company referred to them, whenever a patient received dental services over and above routine preventative care (such as dental cleanings and exams). The State of Connecticut and the United States contend that the alleged conduct was prohibited by the federal anti-kickback statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b), as well as the CMAP provider agreement and the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (“CTDHP”) provider manual.
“Paying kickbacks for patient recruitment is illegal. Dentists participating in Connecticut’s public healthcare programs are responsible for knowing the law. This is the fourth settlement arising from ongoing joint investigations, and we will continue to work closely with our state and federal partners to aggressively protect the integrity of our public healthcare programs,” said Attorney General Tong.
Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Attorney General’s Government Fraud Section at 860-808-5040 or by email at ag.f...@ct.gov; the Connecticut Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 860-258-5986 or by email at con...@ct.gov; or the Connecticut Department of Social Services fraud reporting hotline at 1-800-842-2155, online at www.ct.gov/dss/reportingfraud, or by email to provider...@ct.gov.
Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson, Legal Investigator Timothy Edwards, and Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory O’Connell, Chief of the Government Fraud Section, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG CHALLENGES TRUMP’S FAKE “ENERGY EMERGENCY”
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong filed suit today alongside fourteen other states to challenge the president’s fake “energy emergency,” declared to line the pockets of Big Oil by handing out free passes to pollute our environment.
“This is Donald Trump’s go-to strategy—proclaim a fake emergency to seize power he does not have. Connecticut families desperately need relief from high energy costs, but Trump’s actions here will only make that worse while enriching fossil fuel industry profits and inflicting permanent damage to our land and climate. We are suing today to block this frivolous order, and to stop all illegal permitting pursuant to it,” said Attorney General Tong.
On Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump declared a “national energy emergency” under the National Emergencies Act. Congress passed the National Emergencies Act to prevent presidents from declaring national emergencies for frivolous or partisan matters — exactly what the president has done here.
At the direction of the president, federal agencies are bypassing or shortening critical reviews under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Historic National Preservation Act for energy projects. These laws play a critical role protecting the environment and human health and protecting our heritage and places sacred to tribes.
U.S. energy production is at an all-time high. The country is producing so much oil and natural gas that energy companies do not plan to increase output in response to the president’s order. The president is simultaneously seeking to increase exports which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, will increase prices for American consumers.
The only “emergency” is that the president disagrees with policies to address climate change in Connecticut and elsewhere. He is illegally using emergency authorities to keep the nation reliant on energy sources like coal, oil, and gas. The order excludes wind, solar, and batteries — among the cheapest and cleanest modern energy sources that exist today. The end goal is clear: eliminate the competition so his oil and gas donors can keep gouging Connecticut people and polluting the state.
Until now federal agencies have only used emergency procedures during actual emergencies such as hurricanes and catastrophic oil spills — for example, the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, where lives were at risk. Now agencies are acting under emergency procedures only due to the president’s order.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names as defendants President Donald Trump, as well as the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Both agencies have taken illegal action to implement the president’s directive.
The attorneys general ask the court to declare the president’s directive, and the agencies’ implementation of it, illegal and stop them from issuing emergency permits under the executive order.
Trump’s “energy emergency” EO is directly at odds with his executive order on wind, issued the same day, which Connecticut has also challenged. In the wind EO, Trump seeks to cut off development of a domestic source of clean energy at the same time he claims we urgently need more energy.
Joining Attorney General Tong filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Assistant Attorney General Jill Lacedonia and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONDITIONS PLACED ON BILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING
Attorneys General Fight to Protect Funds Used for Emergency Services and Infrastructure Projects
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, with a coalition of 19 other attorneys general, today filed two separate lawsuits against the Trump administration for attempting to illegally coerce their states into performing federal immigration enforcement duties by threatening to withhold billions in federal funding for emergency services and infrastructure.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition filed one lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The coalition filed a second lawsuit against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy. Each agency has imposed sweeping new conditions that would require the states and state agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts or lose out on billions of federal dollars that states use to protect public safety and transportation infrastructure.
“The federal government needs to do its own job—lawfully—and stop this unconstitutional fixation on micromanaging sovereign state business. Immigration enforcement is a federal role. Plain and simple. You cannot coerce states into doing the federal government’s job by stealing our disaster relief and transportation funding. This is dumb and dangerous, and we’re fighting back,” said Attorney General Tong.
Congress has established dozens of federal grant programs administered by FEMA and the DOT. The money Congress appropriated to those programs funds projects that range from disaster relief and flood mitigation to railroad, bridge and airport construction.
In February, Secretary Noem directed DHS and its sub-agencies, including FEMA, to cease federal funding to jurisdictions that do not assist the federal government in the enforcement of federal immigration law. In March, DHS amended the terms and conditions it places on federal funds to require recipients to certify that they will assist in enforcing federal immigration law.
Soon after Noem’s decision, DOT Secretary Duffy issued a letter to grant recipients informing them of his intent to require all state and local governments to assist in federal immigration enforcement as a condition of obtaining DOT funds. Those funds include grants for highway construction, public transportation maintenance, and competitive funds for airport and railway improvement.
In recent weeks, state grant applicants have seen similar immigration-enforcement language added to the terms and conditions governing grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.
These immigration conditions exceed FEMA’s legal authority. Congress appropriated the billions of federal dollars to help states prepare for, protect against, respond to and recover from catastrophic disasters. The safety and well-being of Americans could be at risk if states are forced to forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars in federal emergency preparedness and response funds.
Since 2021, Connecticut has received more than $1.2 billion from FEMA to prevent, protect against and respond to flooding and other natural disasters, terrorism, mass casualty events, and other catastrophes. These conditions will also damage the carefully built trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities that is critical to promoting public safety.
Imposing an immigration-enforcement condition on all federal transportation funds, which Congress appropriated to support critical infrastructure projects, is beyond the agency’s legal authority. States rely on DOT money to fund highway development and airport safety projects, to prevent injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents, and to protect against train collisions.
Connecticut receives billions of dollars in federal transportation funding. Withholding federal funding will damage public infrastructure across the county and will undermine public trust and cooperation in criminal investigations.
Joining Attorney General Tong in filing the lawsuits are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
CONNECTICUT SECURES TEMPORARY CUSTODY OF FIFTEEN NEGLECTED HORSES FROM VACANT LAND IN LEBANON
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt announced today that the state has filed an action for permanent custody of fifteen neglected horses seized from Stirrup Fun Stables Rescue in Lebanon.
The petition was filed on Monday in Hartford Superior Court, and names Stirrup Fun Stables owner Jeanna Prink and employee and horse owner Ashley Sackschewsky as defendants. The court granted temporary custody to the state on Monday pending a hearing while the case continues. The state is seeking permanent custody as well as costs for the care of the animals.
Prink operated the stables as a horse rescue farm, as well as a business offering trail rides and lessons. In May 2024, two rescue horses wandered from the property and were trapped in mud, requiring 50 volunteers over a span of five hours to save them.
In September 2024, the Department of Agriculture received a complaint of underfed horses in poor condition, lacking adequate shelter and clean water, and being ridden while suffering debilitating medical conditions. After visiting the property, Connecticut State Animal Control officers found 34 horses lacking adequate shelter and water. The State requested veterinarian care, and that the horses not be ridden until cleared. The State also had the horses examined by Tufts Veterinary Field Service that found eight horses not fit for riding and 18 horses required restrictions. The state also determined there was insufficient shelter to support the horses leaving them exposed to the elements.
The State continued to receive complaints that the horses that were restricted and in poor condition were continuing to be ridden, were not provided adequate shelter, and were not fed consistently. On January 30, 2025, the Department of Agriculture issued a cease-and-desist order requiring defendants to cease riding the unfit horses, and cease all riding lessons, horse shows, trail rides and other activities, and to immediately address all food, water, shelter and veterinary care needs. The cease and desist order resulted in a consent order issued by the Department of Agriculture requiring Prink to provide adequate care and continue to keep the Department informed about their condition and location.
On May 7, the Department of Agriculture learned that a number of the horses had been relocated, without notice to the Department, to 744 Trumbull Highway in Lebanon, a 50-acre plot of undeveloped land. The state found 15 horses there, with no infrastructure to support the care or feeding of horses and no shelter. The open pasture field was surrounded by thick woods with brambles and prickers. There was a small pond at one end of the property filled with algae, plants, and bugs, making it unclean to drink. The State believes the horses were left in this open field for days, completely exposed to the elements, including significant periods of torrential rain. The property had no paddock or significant fencing to contain the horses from running onto roads or nearby properties.
Believing the horses to be at risk of imminent harm, the State took custody of the 15 horses found at the property. The horses are currently being cared for at the Department of Agriculture’s Second Chance Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility in Niantic.
“These horses were neglected and left to fend for themselves in an empty field with zero shelter during torrential rains. This is completely unacceptable. The state gave the owners every chance to do the right thing by these horses, but we were ultimately left with no choice but to seek state custody,” said Attorney General Tong.
“The continued support of Attorney General Tong and his team in animal welfare matters is greatly appreciated,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “I commend our animal control unit for their ongoing outreach to educate owners on proper animal husbandry and intervention when necessary to protect the health and safety of the animals.”
If you suspect animal cruelty or neglect, reports can be made directly to the local animal control department or contact the Department of Agriculture at 860-713-2506 or AGR.Anim...@ct.gov.
Assistant Attorney General Daniel Salton and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Head of the Environment Section, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO COMBAT YOUTH SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today praised passage in the state House of Representatives of legislation proposed by his office to prohibit social media companies from exposing minors to harmful and addictive algorithms and notifications without parental consent. The legislation, modeled after similar measures in New York, California, and Utah, would also establish a series of default settings regarding account privacy, time of use and notifications, including barring notifications between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. and limiting social media use to one hour per-day. Parental consent would be required to alter the default settings.
“The amount of time our teenagers spend each day scrolling social media is deeply destructive to their learning, relationships and mental health. We know these platforms are addictive by design—with algorithms and constant alerts honed to maximize profit by overriding self-control. This bill is about giving parents the control necessary to make safe choices for their children. Today’s strong bipartisan vote sends an important message—Connecticut is done waiting for the federal government and tech giants to do right by our kids. I look forward to working with the Senate to advance this important legislation,” said Attorney General Tong.
In addition to strong new default protections, the legislation proposed by Attorney General Tong would require social media companies to annually report to the state the number of minors on their platform, the number of minors with parental consent to use addictive algorithms, and the average amount of time per day a minor spends on the platform, broken down by both age and time of day.
In September, Meta announced new features for “Instagram Teen Accounts,” adding additional privacy features, messaging restrictions, a new sleep mode, and added break reminders. But Meta did little to address the most addictive and harmful features, including its algorithms and infinite scroll—called behavioral cocaine by one developer. The proposed data reporting would give Connecticut the ability to determine if these measures, as well as Connecticut’s own protections, are working to curb social media use during school hours and overnight when kids need to be studying and sleeping.
Attorney General Tong has sued Meta, alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict youth. Connecticut’s investigation into TikTok over similar allegations is active and ongoing.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 19, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG OBJECTS TO KIDDE-FENWAL BANKRUPTCY DEAL THAT WOULD ENABLE CARRIER TO EVADE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PFAS FOREVER CHEMICAL LIABILITY
Bankruptcy Attempts End-Run Around Supreme Court Decision in Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy That Struck Down Third-Party Releases
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today objected to a proposed bankruptcy deal for firefighting foam manufacturer Kidde-Fenwal, Inc. that seeks to unlawfully release its parent company Carrier Global Corporation from liability for PFAS forever chemical contamination in the face of lawsuits filed by Connecticut and other states.
The bankruptcy deal attempts to resurrect a maneuver already declared illegal by the United States Supreme Court after Connecticut and other states objected to immunity for the Sackler family through the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy.
“Whether you are a family of billionaires or a multinational corporation worth billions of dollars, you cannot hide from liability behind someone else’s bankruptcy. We fought this in the Purdue bankruptcy and this question went all the way up to the Supreme Court. This is settled law,” said Attorney General Tong. “PFAS chemicals are a toxic menace to human health and our environment, and the cost to remediate this public health and environmental catastrophe will be massive. We will not allow Carrier to abuse the bankruptcy process to evade liability.”
Connecticut sued both KFI and Carrier in January 2024, alleging the companies knowingly contaminated Connecticut natural resources and harmed public health through toxic PFAS chemicals. Kidde-Fenwal is a former manufacturer of the “National Foam” brand of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) once commonly used in firefighting. Connecticut banned the use of AFFF in most circumstances in 2021 due to severe adverse human health effects, including increased cancer risks, birth defects, and endocrine disorders, among other concerns. Today, nearly all humans have PFAS in their blood. PFAS chemicals are toxic and can persist in the environment indefinitely. PFAS chemicals can travel through the environment, including into drinking water sources, and accumulate in human blood. Even modest releases of PFAS can cause widespread pollution and damage.
Connecticut’s lawsuit is pending in federal court in South Carolina, along with lawsuits from numerous other states, public water providers, and personal injury claimants. KFI and Carrier are estimated to be liable for billions of dollars in environmental damages from PFAS contamination. KFI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2023.
The proposed bankruptcy plan would have Carrier pay creditors a total of $540 million over five years. Any recovery on KFI’s insurance policies after litigation would be split between Carrier and its creditors, up to $3.5 billion, after which all remaining recovery would go to creditors. In return, KFI would grant its parent company, Carrier, a release which seeks to eliminate all PFAS-related claims against Carrier. The plan was negotiated between KFI, Carrier, and attorneys for private plaintiffs, who would receive 8 percent of the proceeds of the bankruptcy plan in exchange for their support.
Connecticut, California, Colorado, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia today strongly objected to KFI’s Disclosure Statement, which would send the plan to creditors for a vote. The objection asserts that the plan unlawfully expands the definition of estate release to include virtually all claims held by the states against Carrier, which has not filed for bankruptcy itself. The states’ claims against a third-party nondebtor cannot be released without their consent. Third-party releases were declared unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court last year after Connecticut and other states challenged Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan, which sought to force states to release their claims against the Sackler family for their role in the opioid epidemic. The objection further argues that this plan does not contain adequate information to let creditors know what they stand to gain and lose if the plan is approved.
Click here to view the filing.
Assistant Attorney General Christopher Kelly and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section, are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS DRUG DISTRIBUTOR TRIGGERED BRAND, ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO MADE IN CHINA OVER SALE OF UNTESTED, UNSAFE “RESEARCH-GRADE” DRUGS TO CONNECTICUT CONSUMERS
Letter to Connecticut Weight Loss Clinics Warns Against Unlawful Sale of Compounded Weight Loss Drugs Not Approved by FDA
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced enforcement actions against two online distributors of bootleg GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Both sell “research grade” GLP-1 peptides direct to Connecticut consumers for weight loss without prescriptions or any medical oversight. “Research Grade” GLP-1s are not FDA approved for human use, and studies have found that bootleg GLP-1s can contain impurities, potential bacterial contamination, and inconsistent quantities of active ingredients, which can result in medication overdoses.
The lawsuit names Triggered Brand, a Florida-based company, alleging violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and statutes prohibiting the practice of pharmacy without a license. While Triggered Brand nominally claims to sell lab supplies, its social media marketing and Trigged Brand’s website explicitly target consumers looking for GLP-1 weight loss injections. The complaint seeks civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each violation.
Attorney General Tong has also issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Made In China, a Chinese international trade platform that advertises and sells “research grade” GLP-1s to United States consumers as injectable weight loss medications. The Civil Investigative Demand seeks information about Made in China and its affiliates’ marketing and sales of “research grade” GLP-1s, as well as information about the factories that manufacture “research grade” GLP-1s sold on its platform. Sellers on Made in China’s online marketplace have freely advertised semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 inhibitors as weight loss injections. Sellers on Made in China’s platform have also advertised that they can mail products in packaging meant to evade customs enforcement.
Attorney General Tong today also sent letters to Connecticut weight loss clinics and med spas warning them that they can no longer market GLP-1 drugs produced by compounding pharmacies. The letter notes that the FDA has identified multiple health and safety concerns associated with these compounded weight loss drugs, including dosing errors, use of salt forms sourced from overseas factories with spotty inspection records, and multiple adverse event reports, including some requiring medical intervention. Despite this, many Connecticut healthcare providers continue to inappropriately advertise and prescribe these compounded GLP-1 medications, often claiming falsely that such drugs are FDA-approved or are “generic” versions of Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro ®, or Zepbound®.
The letter cautions that advertising and sale of these compounded medications may violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. The Office of the Attorney General is prepared to take appropriate action against businesses and individuals who continue to engage in the unfair and deceptive conduct described above.
“Online bootleggers and compounding pharmacies are taking advantage of the massive demand for affordable weight loss treatment. These products are unauthorized and may be unsafe, and we are taking action to warn providers, to stop the flow of illegal medications into Connecticut, and to hold bad actors accountable,” said Attorney General Tong. “Do not buy these meds online without a prescription. Talk to your doctor and pharmacy, and do not take risks with these untested and potentially adulterated knockoffs.”
“While many people are turning to GLP-1s to kickstart a healthier life, it is critical to do that only under the supervision of a doctor, with a prescription, and to only obtain the drugs through a legitimate pharmacy,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “Taking any medication purchased through an unknown and unlicensed online retailer is dangerous, and can result in significant health problems, overdoses and other complications. Companies who advertise bootleg or counterfeit medications as safe are taking advantage of high demand for these products without consideration for your health and safety.”
GLP-1 Medications and Bootleg Versions
In 2021 and 2023, respectively, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved two drugs, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound®, for chronic weight management. Both are GLP-1 inhibitors administered as injections, which help regulate blood sugar and appetite. The active ingredient in Wegovy® is the peptide semaglutide; the active ingredient in Zepbound® is the peptide tirzepatide.
These are prescription medications that may be sold only by pharmacies upon receipt of a valid prescription by a licensed healthcare provider. It is illegal to sell GLP-1s for human injection without a pharmacist’s license and a prescription identifying the individual patient for whom the medication is prescribed. No comparable standards exist for companies selling raw peptides and other compounds to laboratories for scientific research. These are not FDA approved for human or veterinary use. Bad actors, including Triggered and Made in China.com now exploit that lack of regulatory oversight to sell research-grade semaglutide and tirzepatide direct to consumers for personal use. These bootleg products have been found to contain impurities, including possible bacterial contamination, as well as inconsistent quantities of active ingredients. Research-grade compounded drugs are typically manufactured overseas, under standards not meant for human consumption. The products are untested and unregulated. Consumers who purchase and use these products must reconstitute the powders on their own into an injectable form. There is no oversight from doctors, enabling anyone to purchase these products, including those who are not overweight and may be suffering from eating disorders.
Compounded GLP-1 medications also remain widely available, even though the FDA no longer permits compounders to manufacture them in bulk now that shortages of Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and Zepbound® have resolved. The compounded medications are often inaccurately described as “generic” versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide, and some contain vitamin or other additives, even though the FDA has not approved any such drug combinations. The FDA has not approved any oral formulations of GLP-1 medications to treat obesity, and oral GLP-1 medications manufactured by compounding pharmacies have not been shown to deliver safe or effective doses of semaglutide or tirzepatide. Importantly, the FDA has approved Wegovy® and Zepbound® only for chronic weight management in adults with diagnoses of either obesity or overweight and a weight-related comorbidity (e.g. hypertension, type 2 diabetes). GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved for cosmetic purposes.
Bipartisan Coalition Seeks Stronger Federal Action
In February, Attorney General Tong joined a 38-state and territory bipartisan coalition requesting that the Food and Drug Administration take swift action against bad actors endangering consumers with counterfeit forms of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, Ozempic®, and Wegovy® (GLP-1 drugs).
The letter stated that “online retailers are illegally selling the active ingredients of GLP-1 drugs directly to consumers, without a prescription. These retailers claim that the active ingredients they sell are ‘for research purposes only’ or ‘not for human consumption’. In reality, these companies advertise directly to consumers on social media, claiming that their products are an easier and more affordable way to obtain GLP-1 drugs. Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances.
The letter declared that the Food and Drug Administration has the expertise and resources to stop the bad conduct and deceptive practices by counterfeit drug manufacturers and that they should increase enforcement actions against the dealers and suppliers who are illegally participating in this market. It also encourages the FDA to partner with state pharmacy boards to provide increased oversight of compounding pharmacies and ensure that compounded GLP-1 drugs are produced safely and in sanitary environments.
Assistant Attorney General Kate Hagmann-Borenstein, Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer, Chief of the Consumer Protection Section, and Paralegal Specialist Casey Rybak are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING SUSPENSION OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement condemning the suspension of health insurance for striking Pratt & Whitney machinists and their families.
“I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. This is a huge conglomerate punishing and intimidating workers for exercising their legal rights. Stripping healthcare is an attack not just on the workers but their spouses and children, aimed at busting this union and breaking the strike. There are pregnant women and cancer patients impacted by this move, who cannot under any circumstance have their coverage or care disrupted. We are fortunate in Connecticut that striking workers can now continue coverage through Access Health CT, but the easiest way to avoid this hardship would be for corporate leadership to do the right thing and return to the table for good faith negotiations on a fair contract.”
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG LEADS BIPARTISAN COALITION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGING CONGRESS TO PRESERVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR 9/11 RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS
Bipartisan Coalition Calls on Congressional Leadership to Take Immediate Action to Protect World Trade Center Health Program Ahead of Imminent Funding Shortfall
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today led a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general urging Congress to take immediate action to address the impending funding crisis threatening the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), a lifeline for more than 135,000 first responders, survivors, and families impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In a letter to congressional leadership, Attorney General Tong and the coalition called for urgent legislative action to ensure the long-term financial stability of the WTCHP, which is projected to face a devastating funding shortfall as early as next year.
“The survivors and heroic first responders of September 11—many of whom live in Connecticut— are not a political football. They were exposed to toxic dust and debris, and require specialized medical care to monitor and treat the serious diseases linked to their exposure. This is a non-negotiable obligation of our government, and Congress needs to set aside any disagreement or dysfunction to immediately address the looming funding shortfall,” said Attorney General Tong.
Established by Congress under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, WTCHP provides free medical care, monitoring, and treatment to more than 132,000 Americans living with 9/11-related health conditions. Patients served by WTCHP include survivors, first responders, and people who lived or worked near the crash sites, as well as those who participated in rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts.
In the letter, the coalition writes that WTCHP has been an essential resource for 15 years for the more than 135,000 Americans exposed to toxic dust and debris following the collapse of the World Trade Center. The attorneys general note that patients include firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, construction workers, volunteers, and community members who were present in the aftermath – many of whom are now suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, mental health conditions, and other serious illnesses directly linked to their exposure.
The attorneys general argue that despite being reauthorized in 2015 and 2019 with overwhelming bipartisan support, the program now faces a severe funding shortfall that could result in the denial of care to thousands of current and future enrollees. The program is authorized to run until 2090, but the attorneys general contend that the far-off date is essentially meaningless if the program is not funded during that period.
In the letter, Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue that WTCHP funding gap is driven by increasing demand for specialized care, as more survivors and first responders are diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses each year. They note that approximately 400,000 people were exposed to the toxic air around Ground Zero, and though only a third of that group are currently enrolled in the program, many first responders and survivors are still getting sick at an alarming rate.
The attorneys general contend that increased demand for services and treatment means that current funding levels are simply not enough for this country to keep its commitment to 9/11 heroes. Without additional funding, waitlists could grow, medical providers may be forced to cut back services, and the program could be unable to accept new enrollees, many of whom are only now receiving diagnoses for conditions directly linked to their exposure.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition are calling on Congress to act swiftly and decisively to ensure WTCHP has the full funding it needs. The attorneys general strongly urge Congress to enact legislation that will both address the WTCHP funding shortfall and provide the financial stability necessary for the program to serve current and future enrollees.
Joining Attorney General Tong in sending this letter are the attorneys general of American Samoa, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT FOLLOWING SENATE APPROVAL OF LEGISLATION TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVING
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released a statement following unanimous passage in the state Senate of legislation to increase penalties for reckless driving. The legislation, proposed by Attorney General Tong, would subject extreme reckless drivers—those who exceed one-hundred miles per hour—to heightened fines and the temporary forfeiture of their vehicles after a prior conviction. The House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of the legislation on May 8.
“We are all fed up with the reckless driving and brazen lawlessness on our roadways. The excessive speeding, reckless lane changes and distracted and intoxicated driving is endangering lives and it needs to stop now. Tonight’s unanimous vote in the Senate, following the unanimous vote in the House two weeks ago, shows that Connecticut is united in cracking down on this dangerous behavior,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS MULTISTATE EFFORT TO PROTECT ABORTION AND GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE PROVIDERS FROM DANGEROUS CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Attorneys General Call on AMA to Ensure Reproductive Health Care and Gender-Affirming Care Providers Can Get Board-Certified Without Unnecessary Risk
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 19 other attorneys general in urging the American Medical Association (AMA) to take stronger action to protect health care providers from potentially dangerous medical board certification requirements. In testimony submitted to AMA, Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue that requiring abortion and gender-affirming care providers to travel to states that restrict those forms of care in order to get board-certified puts them in legal and physical risk. The attorneys general warn that mandating in-person testing in states that have aggressively criminalized or penalized reproductive and gender-affirming health care endangers providers and threatens access to essential care nationwide.
“The American Medical Association needs to be clear-eyed about the serious threat that doctors face in certain states today. Connecticut has taken strong, proactive steps to protect our providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care from radical, out-of-state legal threats. Policies that force doctors to travel to these states undermine those protections and inflict needless risk,” said Attorney General Tong.
Earlier this year, AMA acknowledged the risks posed to health care providers by state laws that restrict abortion and gender-affirming care, adopting a policy encouraging medical boards to provide alternative testing options in states with such restrictions. However, Attorney General Tong and the coalition assert that AMA’s current stance does not go far enough to protect examinees – it lacks sufficient urgency and fails to provide policy guidance to the specialty boards on concrete steps they should take to protect candidates. The attorneys general call for AMA to go further by recommending such steps, including:
• Relocating testing sites to non-restrictive states;
• Shifting to remote testing to eliminate the need for travel to hostile environments; or
• Granting individual exemptions from in-person exams in restrictive states for those facing heightened legal or physical risks.
The coalition’s testimony highlights the increasingly hostile legal landscape for health care providers in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Following the decision, several states implemented draconian restrictions on abortion and have since taken steps to criminalize patients and providers. Many of the same states have followed by passing a wave of restrictions on gender-affirming care. The attorneys general argue that officials in these anti-choice states have made it clear their goal is to intimidate and punish reproductive health and gender-affirming care providers, no matter where the care was provided.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition warn that mandating in-person board certification testing in states that penalize these forms of health care could have far-reaching and harmful consequences. In particular, the attorneys general highlight the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ABOG), which requires OB/GYNs seeking board certification to travel to Texas for in-person testing. Texas has implemented some of the most severe anti-abortion legislation in the country and similarly restricts access to gender-affirming care for young people. Despite these restrictions, ABOG continues to require in-person certification exams for all obstetricians and gynecologists in Texas. The attorneys general assert that ABOG’s refusal to provide accommodations for candidates who fear prosecution or physical harm in Texas places providers at needless risk and endangers access to essential care nationwide.
The attorneys general emphasize that ensuring the safety of health care providers is essential to maintaining access to reproductive and gender-affirming care in states like Connecticut. The attorneys general are urging AMA to act urgently and forcefully to ensure medical specialty boards adopt concrete, actionable policies that protect providers, warning that failure to act could exacerbate the national health care crisis.
Joining Attorney General Tong in submitting this testimony, which was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, are the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT PRAISING NEW CONTRACT FOR PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released a statement following reports that Pratt & Whitney machinists in IAM Union Local 1746 and Local 700 have voted to ratify a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, ending the strike.
“Pratt & Whitney machinists are a backbone of Connecticut’s economy and the literal engine of our nation’s defense and aerospace industry. Workers in Middletown and East Hartford knew their worth, and they fought courageously for the job security, wages and benefits they are due. I am grateful that the workers and Pratt & Whitney leadership were able to reach a fair and honest agreement that keeps good jobs here in Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
AG Tong Joins Coalition of Attorneys General in Defending National Science Foundation Funds and Efforts to Increase Diversity in STEM
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop its illegal attempts to cut critical National Science Foundation (NSF) programs and funding that help maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). On April 18, NSF began terminating projects focused on increasing the participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. On May 2, NSF announced that it would also cap “indirect costs” of research projects like laboratory space, equipment, and facility services at 15 percent. This arbitrary limit on indirect costs would slash millions of dollars for groundbreaking scientific research across the country, jeopardizing national security, the economy, and public health. With this lawsuit, Attorney General Tong and the coalition are seeking a court order blocking the implementation of NSF’s new directives to eliminate programs addressing diversity in STEM and cut vital funding for research across the country.
This includes tens of millions of dollars to Connecticut’s public universities for a broad array of groundbreaking research, including projects to improve storm prediction, grid resiliency, drought-resistant forest management, technological improvements to air traffic control and product delivery, support for minority students in STEM education and careers, and many more.
“The Trump Administration is arbitrarily and lawlessly knee-capping scientific advancement in our country. These cuts hit Connecticut hard. We’re suing to stop Donald Trump from breaking the law, and to protect millions of dollars in jobs and groundbreaking scientific research nationwide,” said Attorney General Tong.
Since its creation in 1950, NSF has been an independent federal agency crucial to maintaining the United States’ dominance in STEM. From developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to creating innovative solutions to environmental and energy challenges, NSF-funded research at American universities is vital to addressing the nation’s biggest challenges and maintaining the country’s competitive edge.
NSF also has a Congressionally-mandated focus on improving diversity in STEM fields. Congress has instructed in law that a “core strategy” of NSF’s work must be to increase the participation of people who have historically been left out of STEM occupations. This policy has been a success. As the coalition of attorneys general notes, between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering occupations, or with science or engineering degrees, has doubled. During that same time, people of color went from 15 percent to 35 percent of science and engineering job or degree holders. As a result of NSF’s April 18 directive to terminate programs seeking to increase diversity in STEM, dozens of projects have been canceled.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition also assert in the lawsuit that NSF’s directive to cap indirect costs at 15 percent would devastate scientific research at universities throughout the country. NSF’s new cap would mean essential research and infrastructure would be cut, leading to critical projects being abandoned, staff laid off, and research essential to national security, public health, and economic stability ending. The administration’s unlawful attempts to cap indirect costs at 15 percent for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Energy (DOE) grants have already been stopped by courts, in part due to a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Tong and 21 other attorneys general.
Attorney General Tong and the coalition argue that NSF’s directives violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing NSF policy and ignoring Congress’s intent for how NSF should function. The lawsuit seeks a court order ruling NSF’s new policies are illegal and blocking them from being implemented.
Joining Attorney General Tong in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Click here to view the complaint.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 29, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING APPEALS COURT STAY OF DECISION THAT BLOCKED TRUMP TARIFFS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit temporarily stayed the decision issued Wednesday by the United States Court of International Trade ruling that the Trump administration’s tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were invalid and could not be implemented. The court had ruled in favor of Attorney General Tong and a coalition of 11 other attorneys general who sued the Trump administration in April for violating the law by imposing worldwide tariffs under IEEPA, causing severe economic damage throughout the country.
“We expected this appeal, and we are prepared for this appeal. This temporary stay does not change the underlying facts—Trump concocted a fake emergency to launch a lawless and pointless trade war. His tariffs have inflicted needless chaos and economic uncertainty. We remain highly confident in our case, and we are in this fight for as long as it takes to protect Connecticut families and small businesses,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 30, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LIST FALSELY LABELING CONNECTICUT A “SANCTUARY” JURISDICTION
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security released a list falsely labeling Connecticut as a “self-identified” state sanctuary jurisdiction.
“There is nothing in our laws or statutes that says Connecticut is a ‘sanctuary’ state. We are not. That is a meaningless term. It is the policy of the State of Connecticut to respect, honor and protect immigrants and immigrant families in compliance with the law. Trump’s own administration certified Connecticut’s compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 in 2017. Nothing has changed to alter that certification, other than Trump’s unhinged fixation on defunding and commandeering our police. We sued the last time Trump attempted to defund our law enforcement, and we are prepared to defend Connecticut funding and public safety,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 2, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON PASSING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CARL R. AJELLO
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement on the passing of Attorney General Carl R. Ajello, who served from 1975 to 1983.
“Attorney General Ajello was a giant in the Connecticut legal community, and a highly respected state legislator. He left a proud and lasting legacy on this office, the state, his hometown of Ansonia, and the community of attorneys general nationwide through his service as Connecticut’s first President of the National Association of Attorneys General. It is a great honor to pass his portrait every day as I enter my office, and to follow his example into the General Assembly, the Office of the Attorney General, and the leadership in our national association. My sincere condolences to his family—including my good friend and his daughter, Michele Ajello Mount—and to all the attorneys, legislators and public servants he guided and mentored throughout his distinguished career and life,” said Attorney General Tong.
Attorney General Ajello served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General from 1979-1980.
Biography of Attorney General Carl R. Ajello
Attorney General Carl R. Ajello was born in Ansonia in 1932. He attended Ansonia schools and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in 1953, and from New York University, School of Law, with an LL.B. and a J.D.S. in 1956. He was admitted to the Connecticut State Bar in 1956.
He served in the U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1957-1960, entering as a Lieutenant and discharged with the rank of Captain. He was discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves in 1968.
Ajello, a Democrat, was elected Justice of the Peace for the City of Ansonia from 1960-1962 and served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Ansonia from 1965 through 1968. He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1963; served as Assistant House Majority Leader in the 1967 session, House Majority Leader in the 1969 and 1971-1972 sessions; and House Minority Leader in the 1973-1974 sessions.
A partner in the law firm of Ajello, Hoyle and Sponheimer with offices in Ansonia, he was presented the Distinguished Service Award of the Ansonia Jaycees in 1965 and is listed in "Who's Who in America."
He was elected to the Office of Attorney General of Connecticut in 1975 and served for two full terms until 1983.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 2, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG PRAISES PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FIREARM INDUSTRY BAD ACTORS
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding passage in the Connecticut General Assembly of House Bill No. 7042, An Act Concerning Implementation of the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, to strengthen accountability for bad actors in the firearm industry. The legislation now heads to the Governor for his signature.
The legislation would permit the Office of the Attorney General to bring civil enforcement actions against gun manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers who fail to implement reasonable controls to prevent the sale of firearms to straw purchasers, firearm traffickers, individuals prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law or individuals the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe intend to use it for a crime or to cause harm to themselves or others. The bill also permits private citizens, or corporation counsels on behalf of municipalities, the right to bring suits for loss or injury as a result of a failure to implement those reasonable controls.
This bill would not impact responsible gun owners or responsible industry professionals.
“There is no legal immunity for reckless bad actors in the firearms industry who mislead and deceive or ignore our state’s strong gun safety laws. I am prepared to use the full weight of my civil enforcement authority to protect Connecticut families from gun violence. Connecticut has some of the strongest gun safety laws on the books in recognition of our state’s terrible history. This bill ensures Connecticut will continue to lead in keeping our communities safe,” said Attorney General Tong.
Attorney General Tong is part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general formed in 2024 to hold irresponsible firearms industry members accountable for their devastating impact on gun violence. This multistate coalition, the first of its kind, aims to reduce gun violence through the coordinated enforcement of state civil liability and consumer protection laws, among other authority, to promote public safety and saving lives.
The legislation is modeled after similar measures in coalition states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Legal challenges to these laws have been uniformly upheld to date. In December 2024, both New Jersey and Minnesota sued Glock under their accountability statute for knowingly selling and manufacturing handguns that can be easily converted into machine guns.
The gun industry has enjoyed enormous exemptions from liability and accountability in court since the passage of the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which provides firearm industry defendants with broad immunity from many common law tort actions. Congress carved out six exceptions to this immunity, pursuant to which firearms sellers may be held liable for third-party crimes committed with their products. This includes civil actions alleging that a manufacturer or seller of a firearm knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm, and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought.
Here in Connecticut, the families of the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School opened the door to holding the industry accountable for gun violence by suing Bushmaster for improper marketing and advertising of its firearms under PLCAA’s predicate exception.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES COURT TO PROTECT KEY PROVISION OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT
(Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong today joined 18 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, supporting the right of the American people to cast their ballots free from racial discrimination. The amicus brief, filed in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe, specifically argues in defense of the ability of private citizens to file lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) when their rights are violated.
Congress enacted the VRA in 1965 to guarantee that the voting rights of the American people would not be denied or restricted based on race. Section 2 of the VRA specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting such racially discriminatory policies. For nearly 60 years, individual Americans have been able to file lawsuits to enforce Section 2 of the VRA when they believed it was violated. Without this right of private enforcement, only the U.S. Attorney General would be able to enforce the Section 2 rights of voters in the Eighth Circuit.
In 2022, individual voters and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians filed a lawsuit under Section 2 of the VRA challenging North Dakota’s recently enacted legislative map. After a trial, a district court found that the map diluted Native Americans’ votes, making it nearly impossible for them to have an electoral effect. A three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision and despite 60 years of practice to the contrary, ruled that individual voters and organizations could not sue to enforce Section 2 of the VRA. The amicus brief asks for the full Eighth Circuit court to rehear the case.
“It is beyond obvious in this moment that we cannot rely on the U.S. Attorney General as the sole legal defender of our right to vote. For more than half a century, citizens have had the right to file lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act when their rights were violated. Those protections are more important now than ever, and Connecticut joins with states across the nation in urging the court to protect our rights to vote in fair elections free from discrimination,” said Attorney General Tong.
Connecticut is a leader in free and fair elections, codifying its own voting rights acts just a few years ago. I am proud to stand with Attorney General Tong and the people of Connecticut as part of the broader effort to defend voting rights wherever they’re at risk,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.
In their brief, the coalition argues that private enforcement of the VRA is essential, having served as the primary method of enforcing the VRA since its enactment. The coalition notes that approximately 400 private VRA cases have been filed nationwide, compared to only about 40 brought by the U.S. Attorney General. The U.S. Attorney General lacks the resources to monitor, investigate, and prosecute voting-rights violations in every corner of the country.
Without a private right of action, voters will have no recourse if the U.S. Attorney General does not address their concerns. The coalition also explains that lawsuits brought under Section 2 of the VRA often have a high degree of urgency since they typically pertain to upcoming elections. Without the private right of action, Americans may be limited to simply sharing their concerns with the federal government and then waiting to see whether their voting rights will be defended.
Additionally, the attorneys general emphasize the deterrent effect of having meaningful rights to enforce our voting laws. Eliminating the private right of action could lessen the likelihood that the VRA will be enforced, thereby reducing the incentives for state and local officials to comply with the VRA when crafting policy. As evidence, they point to the fact that, after a Supreme Court effectively struck down the VRA’s provision that required certain jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination to receive federal pre-approval before changing voting laws, states previously subject to preclearance promptly enacted restrictive voting laws.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led the brief and was joined in filing it by Attorney General Tong as well as the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG PRAISES PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ILLEGAL CANNABIS AND TOBACCO SALES
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today praised final passage of House Bill No. 7181, An Act Concerning Enforcement of the State’s Cannabis, Hemp and Tobacco Laws, which seeks to protect public health and hold bad actors accountable for illegally importing, selling, and distributing tobacco and cannabis products.
“Connecticut has no tolerance for bad actors who peddle unsafe and illegal cannabis and nicotine products, especially those who break the law to sell these dangerous products to kids. This legislation gives state regulators, as well as state and local law enforcement, powerful new tools and incentives—both civil and criminal—to hold violators accountable and protect public health and safety,” said Attorney General Tong.
Strengthening Cannabis Enforcement
Residents age 21 and over can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut, but cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. Despite those laws, illegal sale of high-THC cannabis products continues in Connecticut. In unannounced visits and raids, state and local law enforcement routinely find illegal cannabis products for sale, including untested and unsafe edibles, blunts and marijuana flower.
The legislation strengthens both civil and criminal laws regarding illegal cannabis sales. Among several provisions, the bill would make it a class E felony for a cannabis shop to sell synthetic cannabis or to sell cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia to anyone under the age of 21. The bill incentivizes municipalities in pursuing civil actions against bad actor retailers by enabling cities and towns to retain all civil penalties from illegal cannabis civil enforcement actions. Penalties are currently shared with the state. The bill would further create a new state Hemp and Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce to strengthen existing collaboration across state agencies and municipalities in cannabis enforcement actions.
Cracking Down on Underage Online Nicotine Product Sales
Sale of youth-attractive nicotine products, including flavored e-cigarettes, in Connecticut is a significant public health concern. Lax age verification for online sales has made youth access to these addictive products far too easy. The legislation addresses this challenge by expanding Connecticut’s existing ban on online sales of traditional tobacco cigarettes to now cover e-cigarettes, and closes a loophole in Connecticut’s e-cigarette age verification law.
Attorney General Tong Prior Nicotine Enforcement Actions
In 2022, Attorney General Tong led 34 states and territories in reaching a $438.5 million agreement with JUUL Labs, resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices. In addition to the financial terms, the settlement forced JUUL to comply with a series of strict injunctive terms severely limiting their marketing and sales practices.
In January 2025, as part of a coordinated coast-to-coast crackdown on bootleg nicotine products, Attorney General Tong served civil investigative demands on 12 Connecticut smoke shops and convenience stores and two wholesalers. Connecticut’s civil investigative demands seek comprehensive information to determine how these unapproved, unregulated, and illegal e-cigarettes are entering the state. That investigation is active and ongoing.
Attorney General Tong Prior Cannabis Enforcement Actions
Cannabis products in Connecticut cannot be sold by unlicensed retailers and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. The Office of the Attorney General works closely with local law enforcement and state partners, including the Department of Consumer Protection and State Police, to investigate and hold accountable bad actors who sell illegal, unregulated, untested cannabis products. Enforcement actions have resulted in seizure of hundreds of pounds of illegal cannabis products, including potent edibles that look like common snacks and candies.
To date, Attorney General Tong has obtained judgments against nine retailers and wholesalers totaling $300,000, and a judgement against a tenth retailer, Planet Zaza of East Haven, for $4.93 million.
In 2023, Attorney General Tong sent letters to all licensed Connecticut vape shops advising that cannabis products sold outside of the regulated market may subject sellers to civil and criminal penalties.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 6, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG CALLS ON INSURANCE DEPARTMENT TO SCRUTINIZE UNAFFORDABLE RATE HIKE DEMANDS
Insurers Can and Must Do More to Drive Down Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding insurance rate hike requests announced today by the Connecticut Insurance Department from seven health insurers for plans available on the individual and small group market, both on and off the state-sponsored exchange.
Collectively, the plans cover approximately 224,000 people in Connecticut. The proposed average individual rate hike request is 17.8 percent, compared to 8.3 percent last year. The proposed average small group rate hike request is 13.1 percent, compared to 11.9 percent last year.
“These rates are simply unaffordable for Connecticut families and small businesses. I’ll be combing through every page of these applications and demanding that insurers justify every penny and every step they have taken to curb these out-of-control costs,” said Attorney General Tong. “Year after year, insurers demand soaring rate hikes that far outstrip the pace of inflation and other cost growth benchmarks. They give us padded applications with vague references to trends that they do not disclose or take any steps to control. But insurers are not neutral or passive actors here—they can and must use their enormous influence to drive down unaffordable and unsustainable healthcare costs. And when they don’t, we need to hold them accountable and require better.”
Attorney General Tong has previously noted that insurers are uniquely positioned to drive down costs when bargaining with healthcare providers. Yet, historically, insurers have shifted these increases to consumers through direct rate increases and by offering higher deductible plans, instead of challenging the runaway unit cost problem directly through hard negotiations with providers.
Pushed by Attorney General Tong, insurers conceded during the 2023 rate hearings that they do not negotiate the cost of individual procedures with hospitals and providers at all. Attorney General Tong has continued to push insurers and state regulators to address the broken incentive structure and negotiation dynamics between insurers and healthcare providers that contribute to the ever-rising cost of healthcare in Connecticut.
The Connecticut General Assembly this session passed new legislation authored by Governor Ned Lamont, effective January 1, 2027, that will allow CID to reduce a health carrier’s individual or small employer group health insurance rate request by up to two percentage points if the carrier’s average approved rate increase exceeds the state’s health care cost growth benchmark in each of the two most recent years for which benchmark data is available.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 9, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUPPORTS HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S CHALLENGE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S RETALIATORY FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE
Multistate Amicus Brief Highlights Devastating Impact of Retaliatory Federal Funding Freeze on Local and State Economies
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, supporting Harvard University’s motion for summary judgment in litigation against a number of federal agencies for their unlawful cancellation of more than $2 billion in federal funding to the university.
“Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any one of us. Because this is about so much more than one single university. This is about an untethered and vengeful President seizing our taxpayer dollars to punish anyone who dares challenge his lies, his authority, or his ego. It is unlawful, and deeply damaging to our country,” said Attorney General Tong.
On April 11, the Administration identified a series of demands that Harvard University must satisfy in order to receive federal research funding that had already been committed to the school. Harvard rightly refused to relinquish its academic independence, and the federal government subsequently announced that it was freezing over $2 billion in federal funding to the university. Harvard has since filed a lawsuit against the Administration, and the university is requesting that a judge make an expedited ruling on the merits of the case without a full trial. The brief of the attorneys general supports Harvard in that effort.
In the brief, Tong argues that the Administration’s punitive and unlawful funding freeze, which poses an unprecedented threat to Harvard, would have devastating spillover effects on the amici states’ economies if their research institutions were targeted in the same way.
Joining Attorney General Tong in submitting this brief, which was led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, are the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PREVIEW OF PENDING U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
All,
Once again, as we near the end of the U.S. Supreme Court term, we are going to start to see decisions in some of the most consequential cases on the docket, including those involving access to healthcare, voting rights, gender-affirming care, book bans, and birthright citizenship.
See below for summaries of the remaining major pending cases where Connecticut submitted briefs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out either before or after these decisions drop with any questions.
A note about the shadow docket: The “shadow docket” is where the Supreme Court weighs in on emergency applications and procedural questions, including stays. These decisions are issued without full briefing or argument. You will continue to see these procedural decisions impacting a number of our major pending cases against the Trump Administration, including DOGE access to sensitive Social Security data and whether the Trump Administration can proceed with mass layoffs at the Department of Education while our challenges are pending. The Supreme Court will not consider the merits of these cases at this point, and we will continue to litigate these cases in the lower courts.
Birthright Citizenship
Trump v. New Jersey
This case involves President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order to eliminate birthright citizenship. Attorney General Tong joined the attorneys general of 17 other states, the District of Columbia and the City of San Francisco to challenge the lawless order, which eviscerates clear constitutional rights to which all children born in the United States are entitled. In response to the multistate challenge, as well as others filed by other groups, courts have issued nationwide preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration from implementing the unconstitutional order.
The Supreme Court is considering the legality of whether individual district courts can impose a nationwide injunction in this case, and whether states have standing to challenge the executive order. The Supreme Court has not yet heard argument on the broader constitutionality of the elimination of birthright citizenship, which is plainly spelled out in the Fourteenth Amendment.
For Attorney General Tong, this fight is personal. Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1973, he became the first United States citizen in his immediate family by right of his birth on American soil. He was the first Asian American elected to state office in Connecticut history, and the first Chinese American to be elected Attorney General in the nation. Attorney General Tong was at the Supreme Court for oral arguments on the case on May 15.
Click here to view Connecticut’s lawsuit, and here to view the Supreme Court brief.
Access to Preventative Healthcare
Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc.
This case involves a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that guarantees access to critical preventative care for millions of Americans. Attorney General Tong and 22 other attorneys general asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision in this case that struck-down federal enforcement of the provision.
Before the ACA’s enactment, many Americans struggled to afford preventive services, such as cancer screenings, which can be lifesaving but were often not covered by insurance. Congress enacted the ACA’s preventive services provision to eliminate this financial barrier by requiring most private insurance plans to cover preventive care without charging out-of-pocket costs, including copayments or deductibles.
Click here to view Connecticut’s amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court.
Discriminatory Voting Maps
Louisiana v. Callais
This case involves a Louisiana congressional map that a federal court found in 2022 likely unlawfully diluted the votes of Black residents in violation of the Voting Rights Act. In response, the Louisiana legislature enacted a new map in 2024 to add a second majority-Black district. A self-identified group of “non-African American voters” challenged that map, claiming it was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. A panel of judges in the Western District of Louisiana barred the state from using that map, trapping the state between two competing orders and undermining the state’s ability to comply with federal voting rights laws. Attorney General Tong joined with 19 other attorneys general in urging the Supreme Court to uphold the VRA-compliant map and affirm the right of states to redraw maps in response to likely VRA violations.
Click here to view Connecticut’s amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court.
Access to Gender Affirming Care
U.S. v. Skrmetti
This case involves laws in Kentucky and Tennessee that severely limited access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Attorney General Tong joined with 19 other attorneys general in an amicus brief that argues the state bans harm the health and lives of transgender youth by denying medically necessary care, and that the discriminatory bans violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by singling out medically necessary care for transgender youth while permitting medically necessary care for others.
Click here to view Connecticut’s amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court.
Access to LGBTQ+ Inclusive Books
Mahmoud v. Taylor
This case involves the ability of public schools in Maryland to incorporate LGBTQ+ inclusive books in school criteria without offering parents an opt-out option. The challenge was brought by parents who argued that student exposure to the books violated the parents’ rights to freely exercise their religion. Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general arguing that such curricula falls within public schools’ longstanding authority to foster supportive learning environments and that mere exposure to inclusive books does not force or compel anyone to abandon or act against their religious beliefs. Although the case specifically focuses on policies of the Montgomery Country Board of Education, the Supreme Court’s decision in the case could be consequential for public schools nationwide.
Click here to view Connecticut’s amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY APPROVAL OF FRONTIER-VERIZON MERGER
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of the proposed merger of Frontier and Verizon.
“This acquisition gives Verizon the telecom assets to serve every customer across the state of Connecticut. This is a huge business and a significant acquisition that warrants strong consumer protection measures and ongoing oversight, reflected in PURA’s final approval today. We will continue to scrutinize Verizon’s practices in Connecticut and expect that they will faithfully honor all commitments and obligations to customer service, low-income consumers, cybersecurity, and local control,” said Attorney General Tong.
The Office of the Attorney General was actively engaged in this proceeding before PURA to ensure that Connecticut consumer interests were considered and protected.
Assistant Attorneys General Caroline McCormack and John Wright and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer, Chief of the Consumer Protection Section assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
CONNECTICUT ENTERS MULTISTATE LEGAL FIGHT TO PROTECT GENETIC INFORMATION IN 23ANDME BANKRUPTCY CASE FROM SALE TO HIGHEST BIDDER
Attorney General Tong Advises Consumers to Consider Deleting 23andMe Data and Genetic Samples
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced Connecticut has joined a bipartisan coalition of 28 attorneys general objecting to the proposed sale of personal genetic information collected by 23andMe. The complaint and a separate objection to the bankruptcy sale, each filed in federal bankruptcy court on June 9, 2025, aim to stop the bankrupt company from auctioning off the private genetic data of roughly 15 million customers to the highest bidder without customers’ knowledge or consent.
23andMe, a popular direct-to-consumer DNA testing company, filed for bankruptcy and is now seeking to sell off its assets—including sensitive genetic and health data—in a high-stakes auction. Connecticut and other states argue that customers should have the right to control such deeply personal information and that it cannot be sold like ordinary property.
The states argue that this kind of information—biological samples, DNA data, health-related traits, and medical records—is too sensitive to be sold without each person’s express, informed consent. If the buyers are unwilling to provide such consent, it is possible that the information will be unable to be sold. In either case, the states will fight to ensure that genetic data isn’t misused, exposed in future data breaches, or used in ways customers never contemplated when they signed up to have their DNA analyzed.
“23andMe collected the most sensitive genetic data imaginable from millions of Americans. They failed to safeguard that data, and now they propose to auction it to the highest bidder, with no security or privacy assurances. Hell no. Connecticut is actively engaged in this bankruptcy proceeding to ensure 23andMe takes every measure to protect the security of this deeply personal information,” said Attorney General Tong. “It is not too late to delete your data and genetic samples, and I urge consumers to consider taking proactive steps to protect your privacy.”
It is not too late to delete your data and genetic samples. Since 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, 1.9 million consumers have done so, according to company reports. Consumers can delete their 23andMe account and personal information with the following steps:
To Delete Genetic Data from 23andMe
1. Log into your 23andMe account on their website.
2. Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
3. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
4. Click “View” next to “23andMe Data”
5. Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
6. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
7. Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
8. Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.
To Destroy Your 23andMe Test Sample
If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under “Preferences.”
To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research
If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page, under “Research and Product Consents.”
Under the CTDPA, Connecticut consumers have the right to access, obtain, correct, and delete personal data collected about them under certain circumstances. Consumers have the right to opt out of the sale of their data, and to opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising or automated decision-making. The CTDPA also gives consumers the right to revoke consent that has been previously granted for the processing of their personal information.
Joining this lawsuit are the attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 12, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG JOINS 21-STATE COALITION FILING AMICUS BRIEF OPPOSING TRUMP’S MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today filed an amicus brief with leaders from 21 states supporting California’s request for a court order blocking the president’s unlawful federalization and deployment of that state’s National Guard.
“Connecticut joins California in strong objection to the use of American soldiers against American citizens on American soil. The President’s unlawful and unconstitutional actions in Los Angeles have worsened public safety and needlessly endangered the lives of civilians, law enforcement and soldiers alike. Every American should have their eye on California right now, because we know Donald Trump will not stop there,” said Attorney General Tong.
The amicus brief outlines how Trump’s action is wholly inconsistent with our nation’s founding principle that freedom depends on the subordination of the military to civilian authority.
“By calling forth troops when there is no invasion to repel, no rebellion to suppress, and when state and local law enforcement is fully able to execute the laws, the President flouts the vision of our Founders, undermines the rule of law, and sets a chilling precedent that puts the constitutional rights of Americans in every state at risk,” the brief reads.
The president’s memo federalizing the Guard does not restrict these actions to just Los Angeles, California, or any specific U.S. region. Instead, it is an unlimited claim of presidential authority to deploy the National Guards of any state for the next 60 days. The states have an interest in standing up against this unnecessary and legally unjustified military call-up.
The states also have an interest in ensuring their National Guards are available to perform the essential services they provide the states on an ongoing basis. They provide critical services responding to natural disasters, counter-drug operations, and cybersecurity support, among other daily contributions to public safety. This unlawful federalization pulls volunteer service members away from performing vital services, and states are not in a position to replace them.
The president’s unlawful and unconstitutional use of the military has exacerbated safety issues and threatened constitutionally protected activity under the First Amendment. Every state has an interest in protecting their residents from these threats.
The brief is led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings. Others joining are the state attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly also joined the brief.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 13, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES DECISION BLOCKING TRUMP’S UNLAWFUL ELECTIONS ORDER
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today issued a statement on a decision by the District Court for the District of Massachusetts granting a preliminary injunction blocking unlawful provisions in President Donald Trump’s unprecedented elections executive order. Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the order in April 2025.
“The Constitution forbids the President from commandeering state election officials to manipulate and micromanage how we vote. We sued to stop the order and to protect our right to cast our ballots in free and fair elections, and the court was right to block Trump from implementing this lawless attack on our democracy,” said Attorney General Tong.
A copy of the court’s order is available here.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, June 14, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING ASSASINATION OF MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATOR
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attacks on State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife Yvette outside Minneapolis.
“I pray for the grieving family of Melissa and Mark Hortman, for the recovery of John and Yvette Hoffman, and for the soul of our country. I pray for the police, and the safe and swift apprehension of this deranged and dangerous individual. I pray for the millions of Americans taking to the streets today who know that the better angels of our nation must and will prevail through this perilous anger and chaos,” said Attorney General Tong.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 16, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG FILES BRIEF OPPOSING UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF JOB CORPS
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong has joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in support of Job Corps, a national program that offers career training and housing to young Americans from low-income backgrounds. Job Corps has nearly 100 residential campuses across the country, and the Trump Administration’s illegal termination of the program threatens to leave thousands of vulnerable young Americans homeless.
“For six decades, Job Corps has aided our nation’s most vulnerable youth through stable housing and job training. The Trump Administration blatantly ignored federal law and Congressional authority in arbitrarily terminating this program—callously seeking to kick at-risk youth to the curb. Connecticut joins with states across the nation to protect Job Corps and the vital education, support and training it provides,” said Attorney General Tong.
The brief explains that “in the sixty years since Congress created Job Corps, millions of young Americans from low-income backgrounds have been served by the program’s unique combination of education, training, housing, healthcare and community.” The unlawful termination will impact tens of thousands of young Americans who are currently enrolled and housed at campuses in all fifty states. Thousands of these program participants were unhoused or in foster care when they enrolled and have no alternative housing if they lose their residence through the program.
The brief was filed in National Job Corps Association et al. v. Department of Labor et al. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Friday. Friday’s amicus filing reaffirms that the injunction is necessary to protect vulnerable state residents and promote state goals in education and workforce development. It further reinforces the point that the Trump Administration cannot violate federal law and the Constitution by terminating congressionally mandated programs it opposes.
The brief is signed by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, Washington.
Benton, Elizabeth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 16, 2025
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES ALL 55 ATTORNEYS GENERAL SIGN ON TO $7.4 BILLION PURDUE SETTLEMENT
Connecticut will receive up to $64 million over 8 years
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced that all 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, agreed to sign on to a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. The Sackler family has also informed the attorneys general of its plan to proceed with the settlement, which would resolve litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers for their role in the creating and worsening the opioid crisis across the country. Now that the state sign-on period has concluded, local governments across the country will be asked to join the settlement contingent on bankruptcy court proceedings.
Connecticut, along with New York, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia led the bipartisan team that negotiated this settlement.
“There will never been enough justice, accountability or money to restore the families whose lives have been wrecked or to right the terrible consequences of the Sackler family’s craven misconduct. What we announce today is both momentous and insufficient, the culmination of years of tumultuous negotiations and legal battles all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, every single attorney general, representing all states and territories nationwide, has signed onto an historic settlement that permanently ends the Sacklers’ control over Purdue and their ability to ever sell opioids again, and forces the company and the family to pay $7.4 billion for their role in igniting one of the most devastating public health crises in American history. This is $1.4 billion more than the settlement reached in 2022, and $3.1 billion more than the settlement Connecticut rejected in 2021. I will continue to urge that the millions of dollars Connecticut receives be used to save lives through opioid treatment and prevention, as well as to provide direct support to victims and their families,” said Attorney General Tong.
Under the Sacklers’ ownership, Purdue made and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, fueling the largest drug crisis in the nation’s history. The settlement ends the Sacklers’ control of Purdue and their ability to sell opioids in the United States. Communities across the country will directly receive funds over the next 15 years to support addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery. This settlement in principle is the nation’s largest settlement to date with individuals responsible for the opioid crisis. Connecticut’s state and local governments will receive as much as $64 million from this settlement over the next eight years.
Most of the settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years. The Sacklers will pay $1.5 billion and Purdue will pay roughly $900 million in the first payment, followed by $500 million after one year, an additional $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
Like prior opioid settlements, the settlement with Purdue and the Sacklers will involve resolution of legal claims by state and local governments. The local government sign-on and voting solicitation process for this settlement moving forward will be contingent on bankruptcy court approval. A hearing is scheduled on that matter in the coming days.
Attorney General Tong will continue to urge that a significant portion of these early payments be used to fund a trust for direct support for survivors of the opioid epidemic, as well as family members of victims and survivors, as was agreed to in the settlement ultimately upended by the Supreme Court.
In addition to delivering $7.4 billion to address the opioid crisis, the settlement reflects the end of the Sacklers’ control of Purdue and bars them from selling opioids in the United States. A board of trustees selected by participating states in consultation with the other creditors will determine the future of the company. Purdue will continue to be overseen by a monitor and will be prevented from lobbying or marketing opioids under the settlement.
If approved, the settlement will make public more than 30 million documents related to Purdue and the Sacklers’ opioid business. The document repository will now also contain documents relating to compliance with the 2007 State Attorneys General Consent Judgments, and after six years will make public documents subject to the waiver of privilege.
Connecticut first filed suit against Purdue and individual members of the Sackler family in 2019, alleging that the company and family peddled a series of falsehoods to push patients toward its opioids, reaping massive profits while opioid addiction skyrocketed. Connecticut expanded and amended that suit later in 2019 to add additional defendants and allegations, including the fraudulent transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars from Purdue Pharma to the Sacklers to shield their wealth from accountability.
Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in September 2019. In 2021, the bankruptcy court approved an inadequate Purdue bankruptcy plan that granted a lifetime legal shield to the Sackler family, unlawfully blocking states like Connecticut from pursuing claims against the family. The plan required the Sackler family to pay $4.3 billion over nine years to the states, municipalities and plaintiffs that sued the company. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia objected to and ultimately appealed the plan. The United States Trustee, an arm of the Department of Justice, also appealed.
In December 2021, the U.S. District Court vacated the Purdue bankruptcy order, agreeing with the dissenting states that the bankruptcy court lacked authority to force states to release their claims against the Sackler family.
The District Court decision paved the way for Attorney General Tong and the eight other dissenting states to negotiate a new settlement forcing Purdue and the Sacklers to pay $6 billion to victims, survivors and states, to permanently exit the global opioid business, and to force the Sacklers to reckon face-to-face with victims and survivors at a public hearing.
That $6 billion settlement was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, sending the states back to mediation in an even stronger position.
Members of the Sackler family included in the settlement include the eight heirs of Purdue founders Raymond and Mortimer Sackler who served on the Board of Purdue: Richard, Kathe, Mortimer Jr., Ilene, David, and Theresa Sackler; and the estates of Jonathan and Beverly Sackler. In addition, their associated trusts, advisers, and most of their children and heirs are also included.
Connecticut has led nationwide efforts to secure more than $50 billion nationwide to combat the opioid epidemic, including $600 million for Connecticut alone to support treatment, prevention, and recovery. That money has begun to flow. Connecticut’s Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, comprised of health professionals, individuals with lived experience, and state and municipal leaders is responsible for allocating and accounting for opioid settlement funds.
Attorney General Tong is joined in securing this settlement in principle by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, Wyoming.