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Missoula discussion focuses on stopping human trafficking

January 12, 2022

It generates $150 billion worldwide and it’s a problem right here in Montana — human trafficking.

The goal of a Tuesday roundtable in Missoula — which came in light of sobering statistics on human trafficking in the state — was how to end it.

Those numbers include a 485% increase in cases from 2015 to 2021. To break it down, in 2015, the Montana Department of Justice tracked seven cases but last year that number was 68. The statistics — and what we need to do about them – were the focal point of the event.

Montana leaders announce Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January 5, 2022

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen declared January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The aim is to raise awareness about human trafficking in Montana.

The Montana Department of Justice has noted a major increase in human trafficking cases in Montana.

In 2015, DOJ tracked seven human trafficking cases, compared to 41 in 2021 — a 485% increase.

61 officers graduate from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy

December 16, 2021

Sixty-one new officers who will serve in 41 agencies across the state graduated on Tuesday from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), which is part of the Montana Department of Justice.

MLEA provides basic and advanced training for state, county, city, and tribal law enforcement officers throughout the state.

Montana Attorney General Knudsen addressed the class and and congratulated the new officers as they received their awards and diplomas.

GOP legislators ask U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in judicial dispute

December 8, 2021

Republican legislators and Attorney General Austin Knudsen are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in their running dispute with the Montana Supreme Court, saying the state justices should have excused themselves from ruling on legislative attempts to acquire internal court documents.

The Montana court ruled unanimously in August that Republican lawmakers’ subpoenas to obtain the documents were illegal and exceeded their authority.

Knudsen on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that the Montana justices violated the constitutional guarantees of due process of law in the case, because they did not recuse themselves from deciding a case involving their own interests.

“This court should grant the petition and reaffirm that due process forbids even the justices of the Montana Supreme Court to be the judges in their own case,” he wrote.

Federal judge blocks vaccine mandate for health care workers

December 1, 2021

A federal district court judge in Louisiana on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction against a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers issued by the Biden administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Health care entities across Montana were planning to implement the requirement for their workers on Monday, Dec. 6.

The temporary block of the mandate comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Montana and several other states earlier in November. On Monday, a separate federal judge blocked the requirement for health care workers in 10 other states, but did not halt the mandate nationwide.

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Special Counsel: Montana Attorney General Knudsen did not harass hospital staff

November 24, 2021

The findings of a legislative probe released late Monday into whether Attorney General Austin Knudsen and other public officials inappropriately interfered in health care directives and “harassed” health care workers at a Helena hospital last month have done nothing to subdue the uproar surrounding the incident.

At the request of minority Democrats in the House and Senate, the top GOP leaders on Oct. 25 authorized legislative special counsel Abra Belke to review state government documents and interview witnesses to determine what happened between the state Department of Justice, hospital staff and a patient who was being treated for COVID-19 at St. Peter’s Health hospital.

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State sending $2.3M to bolster public safety in Yellowstone County

November 23, 2021

Billings saw violent crime increase dramatically during the pandemic. Partner or family member assault charges increased by 48% from 2019 to 2020, and strangulation charges increased 35% in that same period, according to Project Safe Neighborhoods data from the Billings Police Department.

“This proposal is part of our effort at the Montana Department of Justice to get public safety resources out of Helena and into the hands of local law enforcement agencies to fight crime,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said.

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Knudsen leading 2nd lawsuit challenging health-care worker vaccine mandate

November 17, 2021

Montana and 11 other states are suing to stop the Biden administration’s rule requiring most hospitals and other health-care facilities to have their employees vaccinated against Covid-19 by January, calling it an illegal overreach of federal power.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who said he’s leading the effort, said the Nov. 5 rule is not only unconstitutional, but also will exacerbate the shortage of health-care workers, by leading many of them to quit or be fired because they won’t get vaccinated.

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AG Knudsen joins lawsuit challenging employer vaccine mandate

November 6, 2021

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen Friday joined 10 other Republican attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s rule that larger companies must require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The petition filed in a federal appeals court in Missouri says the rule, released Thursday, is an illegal foray into powers reserved for the states. It asked the court to overturn the rule and block it from taking effect while the court decides its legality.

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Attorney General’s Office launches missing persons database

October 28, 2021

Attorney General Knudsen launched an online missing persons database on Wednesday to help law enforcement agencies and the public find missing people.

This enhanced version of the Montana Missing Persons Database is more accessible for cell phones and tablets, making it easier to use. It also provides accurate and timely information on missing persons.

The more accessible and accurate information will help increase the chances authorities and members of the community identify a missing person.

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Attorney General issues guidance on Biden’s proposed vaccine mandate and vaccine discrimination

October 15, 2021

On Thursday, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued legal guidance on the status of the Biden administration’s proposed federal vaccine mandate and discrimination based on vaccine status, which is illegal in our state.

As stated in a release, the guidance is intended to help clear confusion after the president’s Sept. 9 speech discussing his plans to compel private employers to require COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.

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Montana AG Promises Lawsuit Over Biden’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

September 11, 2021

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is vowing to challenge the Biden Administration’s new nationwide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees.

President Joe Biden announced the new vaccine rule for employers Thursday as cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise.

On Friday, Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a statement the mandate “undermines our personal freedoms and liberties” and that he’s looking at all options to push back.

Attorney General Knudsen took it a step further and promised Friday to sue the federal government as soon as the mandate becomes official, calling the rule tyrannical.

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