{"id":2775,"date":"2024-08-04T17:21:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T17:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trulinco.com\/blog\/news-new\/about-half-of-us-state-ags-went-on-france-trip-sponsored-by-group-with-lobbyist-and-corporate-funds\/"},"modified":"2024-08-04T17:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T17:21:15","slug":"about-half-of-us-state-ags-went-on-france-trip-sponsored-by-group-with-lobbyist-and-corporate-funds","status":"publish","type":"news-new","link":"https:\/\/www.trulinco.com\/blog\/news-new\/about-half-of-us-state-ags-went-on-france-trip-sponsored-by-group-with-lobbyist-and-corporate-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"About half of US state AGs went on France trip sponsored by group with lobbyist and corporate funds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"theme-e FITT_Article_main__body oBTii mrzah\" data-testid=\"prism-GridColumn\" style=\"--grid-column-span-xxs:var(--grid-columns);--grid-column-span-xs:var(--grid-columns);--grid-column-span-sm:var(--grid-columns);--grid-column-span-md:20;--grid-column-span-lg:14;--grid-column-span-xl:14;--grid-column-span-xxl:14;--grid-column-start-xxs:auto;--grid-column-start-xs:auto;--grid-column-start-sm:auto;--grid-column-start-md:3;--grid-column-start-lg:0;--grid-column-start-xl:0;--grid-column-start-xxl:2\">\n<div style=\"--spacing-top:40px;--spacing-bottom:32px;--spacing-child-top:initial;--spacing-child-bottom:24px;--spacing-firstChild-top:initial;--spacing-firstChild-bottom:initial;--spacing-lastChild-top:initial;--spacing-lastChild-bottom:initial;--spacing-compact-top:24px;--spacing-compact-bottom:32px;--spacing-firstChild-compact-top:initial;--spacing-firstChild-compact-bottom:initial;--spacing-child-compact-top:initial;--spacing-child-compact-bottom:24px;--spacing-lastChild-compact-top:initial;--spacing-lastChild-compact-bottom:initial\" class=\"dHdHP jLREf zXXje aGO eCClZ nTLv jLsYA gmuro TOSFd VmeZt sCkVm hkQai wGrlE MUuGM fciaN qQjt DhNVo Tgcqk IGLAf tWjkv\">\n<div class=\"kCTVx qtHut lqtkC HkWF HfYhe kGyAC\" data-testid=\"prism-headline\">\n<h1 class=\"vMjAx gjbzK WaKtx eHrJ mTgUP\"><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ\">About half of US state AGs went on France trip sponsored by group with lobbyist and corporate funds<\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"jxTEW Poyse uieav lqtkC HkWF HfYhe kGyAC\"><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ\">About half the U.S. state attorneys general have traveled to France for an event cosponsored by a group largely funded by companies<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"QHblV nkdHX kvZxL hTosT whbOj\" data-testid=\"prism-byline\">\n<div class=\"VZTD mLASH OcxMG oJce\">\n<div class=\"kKfXc VZTD rEPuv\">\n<div class=\"TQPvQ fVlAg HUcap kxY REjk UamUc WxHIR HhZOB yaUf VOJBn KMpjV XSbaH Umfib ukdDD\"><span class=\"tChGB zbFav\">By<\/span><span>GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"VZTD mLASH gpiba\">\n<div class=\"xAPpq JQYD ZdbeE  jTKbV pCRh\">August 3, 2024, 12:03 AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"RwkLV Wowzl FokqZ LhXlJ FjRYD toBqx\" data-testid=\"prism-share\">\n<div class=\"JpUfa aYoBt\">\n<ul class=\"MZaCt dUXCH nyWZo RnMws Hdwln WBHfo tAchw UDeQM XMkl NUfbq kqfZ\">\n<li class=\"WEJto\"><button aria-label=\"Share Story on Facebook\" class=\"theme-EWITS mLASH egFzk qXWHA ScoIf ZXRVe jIRH NoTgg OJpwZ uklrk wSPfd ofvJb nMRSd YIauu gGlNh ARCOA kyjTO xqlN aANqO aNnIu GDslh LjPJo RpDvg YYtC rTpcz EDgo UVTAB ihLsD niWVk GYdIS Bdkqu iTpTL Esicv kOEGk WMbJE eVJEc TElCQ ZAqMY enocc pJSQ pvoyF aaksc OKklU ATKRo RfOGv neOGk fuOso DwqSE fnpin ArvQf dUniT Mzjkf Niff NKnwO ijAAn dEuPM vwJ JmUFf sgyq cRbVn sBVbK fCfdG oMkBz aOwuK XsORH EgRXa hMVHb LTwlP jJbTO CnYjj TiUFI qeCAC xqvdn JaQpT dAfv PNgfG fIWCu NewES UJNbG EgBCK UvFHa lCCRi XDQHW spAMS TPSuu sbdDW askuE VsLUC YHsrW pYmVc eHvZI qRTXS odcNV NzKLB DbNtg nKDCU gTRVo iCOvJ znFR hjDDH JboFf OBVry WDGKU nhtNI SSBnQ\" data-testid=\"prism-Button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"CSJky pdAzW JSFPu\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"\" data-testid=\"prism-iconography\" height=\"1em\" role=\"presentation\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" data-icon=\"social-facebook\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M32 16.098C32 7.207 24.837 0 16 0S0 7.207 0 16.098C0 24.133 5.851 30.793 13.5 32V20.751H9.437v-4.653H13.5v-3.547c0-4.035 2.389-6.263 6.043-6.263 1.751 0 3.582.314 3.582.314v3.962h-2.018c-1.988 0-2.607 1.241-2.607 2.514v3.02h4.438l-.709 4.653h-3.728V32c7.649-1.207 13.5-7.867 13.5-15.902z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/li>\n<li 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.114.057.229.057.286 0 .114.057.229.057.343.114.686.057 1.371-.171 2.057s-.571 1.257-1.086 1.771l-7.2 7.2c-.4.343-.857.629-1.371.8-.571.057-1.143.171-1.657.171-.629 0-1.2-.114-1.771-.343s-1.029-.571-1.486-.971c-.857-.857-1.257-1.943-1.314-3.029s.286-2.229 1.029-3.143l3.314-3.314c-.229-.743-.343-1.543-.4-2.286-.057-.8 0-1.543.171-2.343l-5.6 5.6c-1.371 1.6-2 3.543-1.943 5.543a7.944 7.944 0 002.343 5.371c.8.8 1.657 1.371 2.629 1.771s2 .571 3.029.571c.914 0 1.886-.171 2.743-.514a8.11 8.11 0 002.514-1.486l7.314-7.314a7.936 7.936 0 002.286-4.629 8.21 8.21 0 00-.971-4.857z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"xdNAs rMQsN cELo NoeP BtinW YHmbu hWtE\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"FeaturedMedia\">\n<div class=\"ResponsiveWrapper\">\n<aside class=\"InlineElement InlineElement--content-width InlineElement--desktop InlineVideo FeaturedVideo\" aria-label=\"Video\">\n<div class=\"SingleVideo\">\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder relative MediaPlaceholder--16x9 cursor-pointer\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<figure class=\"Image aspect-ratio--parent MediaPlaceholder__Image\">\n<div class=\"RatioFrame aspect-ratio--16x9\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"Image__Wrapper aspect-ratio--child\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-hidden=\"false\" alt=\"\" class=\"\" data-mptype=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7ada227e-3096-47d8-bf15-e3d6f49faee6\/wirestory_423ea11b92f9d2aeb697dfa8071f90a3_16x9.jpg?w=992\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Overlay absolute-fill flex flex-center-all\">\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Button flex flex-center-all\"><svg focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Icon MediaPlaceholder__Icon--video icon__svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><use xlink:href=\"http:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/#icon__controls__play\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Pill  items-center absolute flex\">1:16<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder__PlaybackWrapper absolute-fill\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Caption__Wrapper\">\n<div class=\"Caption\">\n<div class=\"Caption__TextWrapper\">\n<div class=\"Caption__Text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><span class=\"Truncate Truncate--collapsed\"><span><span class=\"RichText\">A soldier walks past crosses and flags at an US cemetery near Colleville-sur-Mer Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. World War II veterans from across the United States as well as Britain and Canada are in Normandy this week to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings that helped lead to Hitler&#8217;s defeat. (AP Photo\/Laurent Cipriani)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span aria-label=\"The Associated Press\" class=\"RichText Caption__Credit\">The Associated Press<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ScrollSpy_container\"><span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"XQpSH\" data-testid=\"prism-divider\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"xvlfx ZRifP TKoO eaKKC bOdfO\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC\">About half the U.S. state attorneys general traveled to France in a trip cosponsored by a group mostly funded by companies, including some under scrutiny of the top state lawyers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Attorneys general are among the most visible officials in state governments and the job can be a launching pad to the world stage. Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, previously held the post in California.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Joining together gives AGs a chance to share concerns, develop bonds and strategies and talk with officials in other countries. The trips can be posh and provide opportunities for company lobbyists to rub elbows with them. Companies that have picked up the bill and sent representatives in recent years have been from the pharmaceutical, auto, financial, online gaming and tech industries, among others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Organizers said this summer&#x27;s trip is \u201csolely focused on commemorating and paying tribute to the achievements and sacrifices of those who fought in Normandy,\u201d even though they are taking place nearly two months after the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6, which was commemorated by a gathering of world leaders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The Attorney General Alliance, known as AGA cosponsored the trip to France with the National Association of Attorneys General, a century-old group. AGA would not provide dates for the event, but one AG said it was set for July 29 to Aug. 3.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO GbsKS pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW AMhAA daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc ebfE nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY VvTxJ iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM hbvnu OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD iShaE ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV kRoBe oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX\">\n<div data-testid=\"prism-ad-wrapper\" style=\"transition:min-height 0.3s linear 1s\" data-ad-placeholder=\"true\">\n<div data-box-type=\"fitt-adbox-fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-testid=\"prism-ad\">\n<div class=\"Ad fitt-article-inline-outstream  ad-slot\" data-slot-type=\"fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-slot-kvps=\"pos=fitt-article-inline-outstream-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The trip illuminates how corporate lawyers and lobbyists can gain access to officials who regulate their businesses with help from the Attorney General Alliance, one of the groups behind the event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">\u201cLobbyists essentially fund these trips,\u201d said Christopher Toth, a former National Associations of Attorneys General executive director. \u201cThey funnel the money through AGA, and then that insulates the AGs from being criticized that they\u2019re taking money from lobbyists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">It also shields them from criticism that they are traveling abroad on taxpayers&#x27; dime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The AGA said 26 attorneys general were going on the trip. The nonprofit group said <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE\" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/2024-paris-olympic-games\">the Olympics<\/a> were not on the itinerary, though the marquee international athletic competitions coincided with it. In 2022, the group sponsored a trip to Qatar in time for the FIFA World Cup soccer games, which some AGs attended.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The group said it would not make public the 2024 schedule or exactly which AGs were attending in France because of security concerns.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO GbsKS pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW AMhAA daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc ebfE nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY VvTxJ iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM hbvnu OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD iShaE ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV kRoBe oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX\">\n<div data-testid=\"prism-ad-wrapper\" style=\"min-height:250px;transition:min-height 0.3s linear 0s\" data-ad-placeholder=\"true\">\n<div data-box-type=\"fitt-adbox-fitt-article-inline-box\" data-testid=\"prism-ad\">\n<div class=\"Ad fitt-article-inline-box  ad-slot\" data-slot-type=\"fitt-article-inline-box\" data-slot-kvps=\"pos=fitt-article-inline-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">\u201cThis event, like all others, was scheduled based on availability of attorneys general and hotel <!-- -->&#038;<!-- --> conference space,\u201d Tania Maestas, an AGA lawyer, said in an email.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Maestas declined to answer whether any of the corporate sponsors were giving attorneys general tickets to Olympic games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, said she would be attending an Olympic soccer game in addition to the Normandy events and that the tickets, and a few days of a vacation in France with her husband, would be at her expense.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Other AGs said they would not attend the games or ignored queries from The Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Attorneys general are the chief government lawyers in their states. All of them have roles in consumer protection and many in law enforcement. They are elected in 43 states and appointed in the other seven.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO GbsKS pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW AMhAA daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc ebfE nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY VvTxJ iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM hbvnu OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD iShaE ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV kRoBe oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX\">\n<div data-testid=\"prism-ad-wrapper\" style=\"transition:min-height 0.3s linear 1s\" data-ad-placeholder=\"true\">\n<div data-box-type=\"fitt-adbox-fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-testid=\"prism-ad\">\n<div class=\"Ad fitt-article-inline-outstream  ad-slot\" data-slot-type=\"fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-slot-kvps=\"pos=fitt-article-inline-outstream-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">A big shift in the job began in the 1990s when the states banded together to sue the tobacco industry over dangers caused by smoking. The deal opened the door for other huge multistate lawsuits and <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE\" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-opioids-camden-dec0982c4c40ad08b2b30b725471e000\">settlements over opioids<\/a>, <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE\" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-b9e37847fe934eab8551327c8f42a20e\">failing car airbags<\/a> and other consumer protection issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">That use of the office \u2014 ensuring corporate accountability \u2014 gave rise to other developments. Now, some major law firms have departments specializing in representing companies that come under the scrutiny of AGs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Those departments, which frequently employ former AGs or their deputies, have all the motivation to lobby people in the job \u2014 as do the companies they represent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The AGA was originally known as the Conference of Western Attorneys General. It expanded its core topics from largely regional concerns such as water resources and challenges facing Native American communities to a broader range of issues and in 2019 created the nationwide group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The group&#x27;s tax filings show it both brought in and spent about $10 million from July 2022 through June 2023. More than $6 million in expenses were on travel, conferences and meetings and events. Much of the organization&#x27;s revenue has come in the form of sponsorships.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO GbsKS pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW AMhAA daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc ebfE nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY VvTxJ iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM hbvnu OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD iShaE ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV kRoBe oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX\">\n<div data-testid=\"prism-ad-wrapper\" style=\"transition:min-height 0.3s linear 1s\" data-ad-placeholder=\"true\">\n<div data-box-type=\"fitt-adbox-fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-testid=\"prism-ad\">\n<div class=\"Ad fitt-article-inline-outstream  ad-slot\" data-slot-type=\"fitt-article-inline-outstream\" data-slot-kvps=\"pos=fitt-article-inline-outstream-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">While the tax filings do not list the donors, an AGA brochure from 2023, provided by a lawyer specializing in AG practice who requested anonymity because of fear of professional retribution, shows how it works: Corporate sponsors could send more people to AGA events by contributing more money. For instance, $20,000 contributors could have three seats at events during the year. Those who gave $150,000 could have 30. More than 200 companies were listed as sponsors at various levels. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">The AGA did not respond to questions about the brochure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">\u201cWith the AGA, you have these regulated industries outright giving money to the organization,\u201d said Paul Nolette, a Marquette University political scientist who studies AGs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Brian Frosh, a Democrat who served as Maryland\u2019s attorney general from 2015 until last year, said he recalled attending just one or two of the group&#x27;s dinners early in his time in office but did not attend any of the larger events, which have included international trips to China, Morocco, Ireland and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">\u201cThe dinners that I went to, you would sit next to a lobbyist for a different interest,\u201d Frosh said. \u201cAnd then you\u2019d get up and move to another table. I didn\u2019t find that to be enjoyable or educational.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">A 2021 version of the AGA publication shows two companies contributed at least $500,000 that year: Amazon and Pfizer. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Both have come under scrutiny from AGs. Last year, 17 attorneys general joined with the Federal Trade Commission <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE\" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/amazon-ftc-lawsuit-antitrust-1b91bf8026cc3edf81e817cf8596c4bf\">to sue Amazon<\/a>, claiming the online retailer inflated prices and overcharged sellers. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Drugmaker Pfizer has faced legal action from AGs on multiple fronts. Texas AG Ken Paxton sued last year, claiming the company misrepresented the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccines and tried to censor public discourse about it. Pfizer also has been a target of multiple AG lawsuits over drug prices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Colin Provost, an associate professor of public policy at University College London who studies U.S. state AGs, said events where they mingle with lobbyists don&#x27;t necessarily help companies get the outcomes they hope for.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">\u201cThe optics are often not good,\u201d he said. \u201cIn terms of actually proving that this has sort of a corrupting influence, that\u2019s harder to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">Associated Press reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this article.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy\">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN\">This article has been updated to correct that the National Association of Attorneys General and the Attorney General Alliance are different groups and that Christopher Toth was the executive director of NAAG, not AGA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"Article__Footer  Article__Footer--news\">\n<div class=\"Article__Footer--items flex flex-wrap flex-no-wrap items-center justify-between\">\n<section class=\"Share flex flex-no-wrap\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"StoryDivider StoryDivider--logo\">\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ABC News\" class=\"Image Logo Logo__xxxl\" data-mptype=\"image\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\"\/><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taboola bmjsw lZur\" data-testid=\"prism-taboola\" style=\"min-height:800px\">\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article-thumbnails\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Business\/wireStory\/half-us-state-ags-france-trip-sponsored-group-112532341\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2776,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.5 - 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