Press Releases

In celebration of Earth Day, Attorney General Charity Clark today announced the conclusion of the fifth annual Earth Day Essay Challenge. The annual event began in 2021 with the Attorney General’s Office inviting students to submit essays on the environment and Earth Day. This year, the challenge was expanded to include 4th graders along with 5th and 6th graders and invited all types of writing. This year’s essay challenge began in February and ran through mid-April.

Attorney General Charity Clark today released 2024 statistics from the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), located in her office, showing an increase in the number of CyberTips, or reports of child sexual abuse materials online. In 2024, VT-ICAC received 1,082 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a substantial increase from the 853 CyberTips received in 2023. VT-ICAC completed 293 investigations, executed 98 search warrants, and effectuated 41 prosecutions statewide in 2024.

The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Adam Ranslow, 40, of Whitingham, Vermont, was arraigned on four felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. The charges brought against Mr. Ranslow are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Vermont State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in supporting two commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission who are challenging the illegal decision by President Trump to fire them without cause.

Coalition of 21 state attorneys general file amicus brief

The Attorney General’s Office today announced Stephen Nuciolo Jr., 18, of Bridport, Vermont, pleaded not guilty to the charge of Murder in the Second Degree at his arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, following his invocation of the 24-hour rule. Mr. Nuciolo, who was charged yesterday, is accused of fatally shooting his father on January 24, 2024, in Bridport, Vermont.

The Attorney General’s Office today announced Stephen Nuciolo Jr., 18, of Bridport, Vermont, was charged in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, on one felony count of Murder in the Second Degree. Mr. Nuciolo is accused of fatally shooting his father, Stephen Nuciolo Sr., on January 24, 2024, at the family’s residence in Bridport, Vermont.

The Attorney General’s Office today announced that David Razinha, 55, of Ludlow, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to two felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Travis Papineau, 41, of Northfield, Vermont, was sentenced on April 11, 2025, in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Attorney General Charity Clark today led, along with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general in formally urging congressional leadership to pass an act that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. 

Joins Coalition of 19 Attorneys General Urging Court to Block Policy Targeting Noncitizen Students and Faculty Based on Political Expression

Proposed Changes Would End Coverage for DACA Recipients, Make Coverage More Expensive and Difficult to Find, and Impose Costs to States

 The Vermont Attorney General’s Office today announced that David Mumley, 32, formerly of Swanton, Vermont, now a resident of Florida, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Criminal Division, after entering guilty pleas to misdemeanor neglect of a vulnerable adult, voyeurism, and health care fraud.

Coalition Files Briefs in Support of Law Firms Targeted for Retribution by Trump Administration

Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general today in filing two amicus briefs supporting law firms challenging unconstitutional executive orders imposing severe sanctions on the firms in retaliation for doing work disfavored by the Trump administration.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in a lawsuit challenging a restrictive Tennessee law making it a crime for adults to help minors seek reproductive health care outside of Tennessee due to that state’s near-total abortion ban.

Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in continued opposition to President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to remove Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Dismissing Wilcox would leave just two members remaining on the five-member board, which cannot act without a quorum of at least three members. 

The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Corissa Laws, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced for stealing another person’s identity in order to illegally practice as a nurse in Vermont. In 2022, Ms. Laws impersonated a licensed Florida nurse to receive a pandemic-related emergency authorization to fraudulently register as a licensed nurse in Vermont and New Hampshire. Ms.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of Cathy A. Harris, a member of the federal Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) who President Donald Trump has attempted to unlawfully remove from office. The MSPB is an independent agency with legal protections against political interference. The amicus brief, in the case Harris v.

Coalition of 19 States File SCOTUS Brief Defending Local Discretion to Incorporate LGBTQ-Inclusive Books into Curriculum Without Opt-Outs

Attorney General Clark and 22 Other 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

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Steven Malaney, 61, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials.

Attorney General Charity Clark today announced a multistate settlement in principle with pharmaceutical company Mylan Inc. (Mylan) that will deliver up to $335 million nationwide to help combat the opioid crisis. Mylan, which is now a part of Viatris, has manufactured and sold a variety of opioids since 2005, including generic fentanyl patches, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and buprenorphine products.

Coalition Suing to Stop Dismantling of Federal Agencies That Support Libraries, Museums, Minority-Owned Businesses, and Workers

Lawsuit asserts that voting restrictions are not authorized by U.S. Constitution or Congress

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Julie Maskell, 66, and Stephen Maskell, 65, both of Eden, Vermont, were separately arraigned, each on one count of felony Medicaid Fraud in Vermont Superior Court, Lamoille Criminal Division.

Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general, led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, to secure a preliminary injunction (PI) in Maryland et al. v. USDA, a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for Maryland suing numerous federal agencies for the unlawful mass firing of federal probationary employees.   

SAVE Act could disenfranchise most married women and active-duty service members

Vermonters can demand that 23andMe delete their data

Attorney General Charity Clark today issued a consumer alert to help Vermonters protect their personal data in the wake of 23andMe’s bankruptcy recent filing.

Coalition of AGs File Motion for Preliminary Approval of $39.1 Million Settlement with Generic Drug Manufacturer Apotex over Conspiracy to Inflate Prices and Limit Competition

AG Clark Joins Coalition Seeking Preliminary Injunction to Block Mass Layoffs and the Elimination of Core Services at the Department of Education

Attorney General Charity Clark today announced she has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), a bipartisan organization of state attorneys general from across the country and U.S. territories. The Executive Committee oversees the management of NAAG and functions as the governing body of the association for the benefit of its members.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) parole pathways for certain vulnerable immigrants fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Stephen Kingsbury, 23, of Rutland, Vermont, was arraigned today on one count of felony Aggravated Sexual Assault on a Child, one felony count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, and six counts of felony Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charges brought against Mr.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined 51 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in support of two military veterans and their families who were unlawfully denied their full G.I. Bill education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this case, U.S. Army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yoon and U.S. Air Force veteran Colonel Toby Doran were denied crucial education benefits to which they are clearly entitled. 

Attorney General Charity Clark will host a Town Hall on Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 PM in Montpelier. More information is available here. For those unable to attend in-person, the event will be livestreamed by ORCA Media here.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Lavallee, 31, of Bristol, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Luring a Child.

Federal Judge Orders 18 Federal Agencies to Give Employees Their Jobs Back by Monday 

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 1:00 pm on Monday, March 17, 2025. 

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (“Education Department”). On March 11, the Trump administration announced that the Education Department would be firing approximately 50 percent of its workforce as part of its goal of a “total shutdown” of the Department.

Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of seven attorneys general in issuing the following joint statement in support of efforts in the U.S. Senate to block a partisan continuing resolution (CR):

Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general today in filing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by Perkins Coie, the Seattle law firm targeted by President Donald Trump for representing clients and taking positions disfavored by the president. President Trump’s executive order, “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP,” is the subject of the lawsuit.

Clark to Discuss Her Lawsuits Against the Trump Administration, Answer Questions

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Adam Terry, 31, of Monkton, Vermont, was arraigned today on one count of felony Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of misdemeanor Lewd-Lascivious Conduct with Child, two counts of felony aggravated sexual assault, one misdemeanor count of Lewd-Lascivious Conduct with Child, and one count of felony sexual assault. The charges brought against Mr. Terry were the result of an investigation conducted by the Vergennes Police Department.

Sixth Lawsuit Brought by AG Clark Against the Trump Administration

Today, Attorney General Clark joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in issuing guidance to help K-12 schools, colleges and universities understand the legality, viability and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and practices in education.

Office Saves and Recovers More Than $2 million for Vermont Consumers

Attorney General Charity Clark today 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 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).

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Payton Stearns, 25, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was arraigned today on one felony count of aggravated sexual assault and two felony counts of sexual assault. The charges brought against Mr. Stearns are the result of a criminal investigation by the Thetford Police Department.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Kristen Connolly, 56, of Jeffersonville, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Lamoille Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to misdemeanor Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult, Driving Under the Influence, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and felony Medicaid Fraud.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Lena McKirryher, 60, of Pittsford, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, and one felony count of Medicaid Fraud. The charges brought against Ms. McKirryher are the result of a joint investigation conducted by the office’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit and the Vermont State Police.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Brian Wood, 22, of Hartford, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on one felony count of Luring a Child.