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Press Releases

Attorney General Donovan Calls for Criminal Investigation into Capitol Riot

Date
January 7, 2021

Request for Immediate Investigation Includes President Trump

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan today requested that Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen commence a criminal investigation into the activities of President Donald Trump and rioters in relation to the events occurring at the U.S. Capitol yesterday. Attorney General Donovan wrote in the letter to Acting Attorney General Rosen:

Vermont Leads Multistate Investigation of Hotel Booking Company’s 2017 Data Breach

Date
December 23, 2020

State of Vermont to Receive $397,000 as Settlement

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan, along with the attorneys general of 27 states, has entered into a settlement with Sabre Corporation that resolves an investigation into the 2017 data breach of Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ hotel booking system. The breach exposed the data of approximately 1.3 million credit cards. The settlement requires a payment of $2.4 million, of which the State of Vermont will receive $397,000 and injunctive relief.

Two St. Albans Men Arraigned on Charges of Child Luring and Promotion of Child Pornography

Date
December 21, 2020

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced today that Jason King, 42, and William Smith, 54, both of St. Albans, Vermont, were arraigned in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Division, on December 18, 2020 for child sexual exploitation related charges.

Attorney General Donovan and Commissioner of Financial Regulation Pieciak Join $86 Million Settlement with Nationstar Mortgage

Date
December 8, 2020

CONTACT:   Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Molly Dillon, Deputy Commissioner of Banking, Dept. of Financial Regulation, 802-828-4874

Seventy-Eight Vermonters to Receive $100,000 in Restitution

AG Donovan Reassures Vermonters: Voters Will Determine the Outcome of the Presidential Election

Date
November 4, 2020

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Following President Donald Trump falsely declaring victory in the presidential election, Attorney General T.J. Donovan is reassuring Vermonters that he will protect the rule of law by ensuring that every vote is counted.

“If democracy is going to work, we must respect the will of the people and that means we count every legal vote,” said Attorney General Donovan. “Voters will determine the outcome of the election.”

Vermont Democratic Party & Burlington Democratic Committee Settle Campaign Finance Violations

Date
October 23, 2020

Contact: Philip Back, Assistant Attorney General, 802-828-3171

The Vermont Democratic Party and the Burlington Democratic Committee will pay a penalty to the State of Vermont for campaign finance reporting violations. According to a settlement reached today, the Vermont Democratic Party and the Burlington Democratic Committee failed to timely file reports regarding the March 3, 2020 Town Meeting Day election, in violation of 17 V.S.A. § 2964(b)(1), for which they will collectively pay $2750 as a civil penalty.

Attorney General’s Statement Regarding Sentence Of 25 Years to Life in Caballero Trial

Date
October 7, 2020

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Today, Jayveon Caballero was sentenced to serve 25 years to life for the murder of Markus Austin in Montpelier, Vermont. Mr. Caballero was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree after a jury trial in November 2019. The case was heard by Judge Mary Morrissey in Washington Superior Court, Criminal Division. Assistant Attorneys General Elizabeth Anderson and John Waszak prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Vermont. In light of today’s sentencing, Attorney General T.J. Donovan issues the following statement:

Attorney General Donovan’s Statement on the Governor’s Veto of the Global Warming Solutions Act

Date
September 15, 2020

“Climate change is real, and it is already affecting our state. The Global Warming Solutions Act, recently passed by the Vermont Legislature, tells government: When it comes to climate change, do your job. I testified in favor of this bill because it requires concrete climate action by certain deadlines. And it creates government accountability by allowing Vermonters to bring a citizen lawsuit if government fails to meet those requirements.

Attorney General Wins Significant Victory in Clearview AI Lawsuit

Date
September 11, 2020

Contact: Ryan Kriger, Assistant Attorney General, (802) 828-3171

Court Denies Facial Recognition Company’s Motion to Dismiss

Attorney General T.J. Donovan has prevailed on a motion to dismiss filed by Clearview AI in the lawsuit to stop the facial recognition company from collecting and selling images of Vermonters. The Court’s ruling means the case, which was filed in April, may now move forward. The case is pending in Chittenden Superior Court, Civil Division.

Call to Action: Racial Disparities Panel Urges Lawmakers to Act on Panel’s Recommendations

Date
September 1, 2020

Today, Dr. Etan Nasreddin-Longo, chair of the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel, along with Panel members, Executive Director of Racial Equity Xusana Davis, and Attorney General T.J. Donovan urged the Legislature to take further action to address racial disparities and systemic bias in Vermont.

South Burlington Man Arraigned for Aggravated Sexual Assault

Date
August 27, 2020

Contact: Charity R. Clark, Chief of Staff, 802-828-3171

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that Cory Johnson, 34, of South Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned earlier this week on one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault. The charges brought against Mr. Johnson are the result of multiple criminal investigations conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, and the University of Vermont Police Services.

Woodstock Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

Date
July 30, 2020

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that Matthew Vince, 42, of Woodstock, Vermont, was arraigned today on six felony and two misdemeanor counts of possession of child pornography.  This morning, members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, the Vermont State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations, executed a residential search warrant and arrested Mr. Vince pursuant to an investigation that originated with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Burlington Man Arrested for Possession & Promotion of Child Pornography

Date
July 28, 2020

Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced that Jake Sallerson, 31, of Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned today on three felony counts of promotion of child pornography and three felony counts of possession of child pornography. Mr. Sallerson was arrested after law enforcement executed online and residential search warrants and discovered images of child pornography.

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