Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen hosted a press conference on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, to announce the capture of Anaconda shooting suspect Michael Brown after a week on the run.
Montana DOJ starts chaplaincy program to offer aid, comfort to employees
The Montana Department of Justice has started a chaplaincy program to provide spiritual help and comfort to its more than 900 employees who find themselves dealing with the darkest of crimes and other trauma.
Ten chaplains from around the Treasure State were sworn in Tuesday as DOJ employees by Attorney General Austin Knudsen and will be available at a moment’s notice to help, officials said.
Attorney General Knudsen Announces $2.5 Million Opioid Settlement with Eight Drug Manufacturers
montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state will receive $2.5 million as part of a nationwide $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic.
The funds, which will be used for opioid abatement efforts across Montana, stem from a multistate agreement resolving claims that the companies played a role in the widespread distribution and marketing of addictive prescription painkillers. All 50 states and U.S. territories are set to receive a share of the national settlement.
“As Attorney General, I will continue to hold those who fueled the opioid crisis accountable,” Knudsen said. “Opioids have taken lives and destroyed communities across Montana and the entire country. We will put this money to good use to save lives and stop addiction.”
Montana’s share of the settlement will be directed toward a variety of opioid response programs, including treatment for opioid use disorder, the distribution of life-saving overdose reversal drugs like Narcan to first responders, and expansion of drug treatment courts for individuals with opioid-related substance abuse issues.
Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday that his office has opened an investigation into Lee Enterprises following a February cyberattack that compromised the personal information of nearly 40,000 employees and subscribers, including an undisclosed number of Montanans.
Lee Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, owns several major newspapers in Montana, including the Helena Independent Record, Billings Gazette, Missoulian, Montana Standard, and Ravalli Republic. The company also operates other publications and digital news platforms nationwide.
The breach, which occurred on February 3, temporarily disrupted both digital and print operations. Hackers reportedly stole sensitive customer and employee data during the incident.
“Identity theft associated with data breaches threatens Montanans’ financial security,” Attorney General Knudsen said in a statement. “It is my job as Attorney General to protect Montanans by ensuring companies that collect and store our personal and financial information do so responsibly and comply with all applicable laws.”
Attorney General Knudsen warns about elder abuse in Montana
AARP reports that there are more than 369,000 cases of financial abuse targeted at seniors across the country every year.
On the heels of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen spoke on Monday at Stockman Bank in Missoula, urging Montanans to watch out for scams and other forms of elder abuse.
Attorney General Knudsen Appoints Billings Attorney Emily Jones to Montana Judicial Standards Commission
Attorney General Austin Knudsen today announced the appointment of Billings attorney Emily Jones to the Montana Judicial Standards Commission, a key body responsible for upholding the integrity and ethical standards of the state’s judiciary.
With more than 15 years in private practice, Jones brings extensive legal experience to the commission, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and ensures accountability within Montana’s courts. Her appointment, confirmed by the Montana Senate, will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.
“Maintaining public trust in our judiciary demands unwavering ethical standards,” Knudsen said. “Emily Jones’s extensive legal experience and dedication to justice make her an exceptional addition to the Judicial Standards Commission.”
Jones’s diverse legal background includes representing Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. From 2022 to 2024, she served as a special assistant attorney general, assisting the Montana Department of Justice with complex civil litigation. In 2025, she was named to the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
A graduate of the University of Montana School of Law, Jones is admitted to practice in Montana state and federal courts, Arizona superior courts, the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
AG Knudsen jumps into Gallatin County dispute on immigration jail holds
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen this week weighed in on questions about expanding Gallatin County’s assistance to federal immigration authorities, calling legal guidance from the local county attorney on the matter “flawed” in part because it runs against President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The discussion about dedicating 10 jail beds for federal immigration detainees has already dissolved in Gallatin County, but Knudsen, a Republican, has been an ardent supporter of Trump’s politics since taking office in 2021. In a letter dated May 21, he accused Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell of political opposition to federal immigration enforcement, rather than advising county officials based on legal analysis.
Large amount of carfentanil seized in Billings
HELENA — A large seizure of carfentanil or elephant tranquilizer in Billings earlier this month is raising concerns for Montana’s health and safety.
.We see a lot of fentanyl, a lot of methamphetamines, but this is a new one,” Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen says.” “We have seen some very small amounts of carfentanil, which obviously sounds like fentanyl, but it is a lot more potent. We have never seen a shipment this big.”
The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area recently seized a large amount of dangerous drugs.
Knudsen says they were trafficked into Montana from out of state and that drugs originated from the Mexican cartels.
Montana Attorney General signs agreement to let MHP assist with federal immigration enforcement
HELENA — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen says he has signed an agreement with federal authorities that will eventually lead to Montana Highway Patrol troopers assisting with enforcement of immigration laws.
The Montana Department of Justice reached a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. It says MHP troopers and agents with DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation will be able to go through federal training, then have the authority to interrogate people for suspected immigration violations and arrest and detain people they believe are in the U.S. illegally.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen Congratulates President Trump on Inauguration
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen today issued a statement congratulating President Donald J. Trump on his inauguration, emphasizing his optimism for the future under the new administration.
“Today marks a new day in America,” Knudsen stated. “President Trump is the leader our country needs to restore prosperity and security after four years of the Biden administration’s disastrous policies that have left our southern border wide open, jeopardized the energy industry, and put our rights and freedoms at risk.”
Knudsen expressed his commitment to collaborating with the Trump administration to address challenges facing Montana and the nation.
“I look forward to working with President Trump to reverse the damage caused by Biden’s actions and to keep Montana and our country safe, secure, and prosperous,” he added.
Knudsen’s statement reflects growing support among Montana leaders for the Trump administration’s policy priorities, including border security, energy independence, and the protection of constitutional freedoms.
Austin Knudsen Wins Re-election as Montana Attorney General
The Associated Press has called Austin Knudsen the winner of the race for Montana Attorney General, with 86.1% of the votes counted. Knudsen, the Republican incumbent, has successfully secured a second term in office, defeating Democratic challenger Ben Alke.
Knudsen, who was raised in Culbertson, Montana, has held the position of Attorney General since 2020. Prior to his tenure as the state’s top legal officer, he served as Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. During his time in the Legislature, Knudsen was known for his conservative stances on a range of issues.
Alke, a Helena native, practiced law in Bozeman during his campaign. Throughout his legal career, Alke has focused on constitutional law, representing clients in cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws in Montana.
With Knudsen’s victory, he will continue his work as Attorney General, where he has prioritized issues such as defending state laws, strengthening public safety, and addressing consumer protection. Alke’s campaign, meanwhile, centered on reforming the office and ensuring fairness in the legal system.
