Oregon’s disgraced former Secretary of State has agreed to settle three cases with her state’s Government Ethics Commission, which had accused her of violating multiple ethics rules when she was in office, which led to a legal battle that the Democrat politician eventually gave up, acknowledging that her actions were “indefensible” and agreeing to pay several thousand dollars in civil penalties.
For context, Shemia Fagan, who previously served as Oregon’s Secretary of State and was described as a “Democrat political star” and “the next governor of Oregon,” became mired in scandal in May 2023 when she was accused of using her public position for personal gain by working as a private consultant for a cannabis company.
Furthermore, Fagan initially denied the allegations and disputed the Oregon Government Ethics Commission in court, but on May 9, 2025, she settled, agreed to pay $3,600 in penalties, and acknowledged her wrongdoing. However, the controversy surrounding her case continued when the fines imposed on her were described as “insufficient,” and she seemed not to honor promises she had made regarding what would become of her remaining campaign funds.
According to coverage from The Willamette Week, court documents confirmed that Fagan’s decision to settle was ultimately based on a desire to avoid paying hefty legal fees. The disgraced politician reportedly went on to say, “For most of 2023, I have imagined the chance to sit here and defend myself,” adding, “And then I spent the last two years in bittersweet reflection on my time in politics, and now I’m sitting here and I know that my actions were indefensible.”
Continuing, Fagan reportedly said that she had made “embarrassing mistakes,” referring to her decision to serve as a private consultant for La Mota, an Oregon-based cannabis company that, according to The Willamette Week, paid Fagan a $10,000-per-month retainer for her services. She added that she had made “embarrassing mistakes” and used “bad judgment,” concluding by simply saying, “I’m sorry. Whatever fine you decide to impose on me today, I will accept it.”
After agreeing to settle, Fagan was charged fees that one Oregon Department of Justice commissioner, Dan Mason, reportedly said were insufficient. Referring to the $3,600 fine imposed on Fagan, Mason told The Willamette Week, “I don’t think any reasonable Oregonian would look at that number and, on the face of it, believe it was adequate.” He added, “At the same time, this has cost her a political career which, by all accounts, was pretty bright. She was probably on track to be the next governor of Oregon.”
In addition, according to press accounts, there are still outstanding questions about Fagan’s political career, including a pledge she reportedly made to donate all of the remaining money in her campaign fund to the Oregon Humane Society. According to the Willamette Week, Fagan said, “I believe the right thing for me to do is redirect as much of their political donations as I have left in my PAC as I’m able.”
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However, according to The Willamette Week, Fagan has not yet made any donations to the Oregon Humane Society, but her campaign committee reportedly is still active and has made $3,000 in payments. In addition, press accounts confirmed that Fagan started a company after resigning from her position, a nonprofit that is reportedly still awaiting tax-exempt status.
Watch Fagan’s apology in court:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video