New Video: A.G. Underwood Thanks New Yorkers For The Opportunity To Serve

News from the New York Attorney General's Office 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 21, 2018

Attorney General's Office Press Office / 212-416-8060
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NEW VIDEO: A.G. UNDERWOOD THANKS NEW YORKERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE   

NEW YORK – Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today released a new video reflecting on her tenure as New York’s Attorney General and thanking New Yorkers for the opportunity to serve.

Attorney General Underwood was confirmed as New York’s 66^th Attorney General on May 22^nd, 2018. She will continue serving as Attorney General until the end of the year, at which point she will return to her prior role as New York’s Solicitor General.

In the video, Attorney General Underwood shares her thoughts on serving as New York’s 66^th Attorney General:

“Serving as Attorney General of the State of New York would be a privilege and an honor even in ordinary times. It is especially meaningful at this moment, when the Attorneys General of New York and some other states are really the main sources of defense and protection for many important rights.

“The wonderful thing about being here in the New York Attorney General’s office at this time is that we are in a position to fight back. We are in a position to protect immigrants, reproductive rights, the environment, equality, workers, consumers, investors, and the rule of law.

“There are a lot of people who are wringing their hands and are concerned and upset about what’s happening, and wish they could do something. We can do something. And we’re going to keep doing it with all our energy and all our might.

“It’s been an honor to lead the office in this work at this time.”

“I’m honored to be resuming my role as New York’s Solicitor General in the new year -- and I know that with Attorney General-Elect James, we’ll continue and expand our efforts to protect New Yorkers and fight for equal justice for all,” said Attorney General Underwood.

Over the last two years, the Attorney General’s office has taken over 200 legal actions to protect New Yorkers from dangerous federal policies. Attorney General Underwood has led a number of multistate coalitions in securing major wins to protect New Yorkers and Americans across the country. Some recent legal victories include:

• The restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars that the federal government cut from New York’s Essential Plan, which provides over 800,000 low-income New Yorkers with access to affordable health care.
• Blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to withhold critical public safety funds from New York’s sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Securing a court ruling requiring the EPA to act to address smog pollution.
• Obtaining an injunction protecting DREAMers from the Trump administration’s effort to rescind DACA.
• Securing a court decision directing the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide that harms children’s neurological development.

Attorney General Underwood has also led a number of ongoing multistate suits, including leading the lawsuit to block the Trump administration from demanding citizenship status on the 2020 Census; the trial wrapped up last month. Other ongoing actions led by Attorney General Underwood include the suit to block the rollback of Net Neutrality, and efforts to defend the Clean Power Plan.

Other highlights of Attorney General Underwood’s tenure include:

• Securing settlements with 7 major New York hospitals after they illegally billed rape survivors for rape kits.
• Launching an ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse.
• Obtaining a record-setting settlement with Charter-Spectrum, including the largest-ever consumer payout by an Internet Service Provider in U.S. history.
• Filing an investor protection lawsuit against Exxon for securities fraud.
• Suing Purdue Pharma for widespread fraud and deception in the marketing of opioid products.
• Securing the conviction of "Taxi King" Evgeny Freidman for stealing nearly $5 million in MTA taxes.
• Securing the largest COPPA settlement in U.S. history, protecting children from online privacy violations.
• Beginning distribution of $8 million in restitution for the tenants of notorious landlord Steven Croman—part of the largest-ever monetary settlement against an individual landlord in New York history.
• Obtaining a major settlement with manufactured home park owners to reform rent-to-own practices.
• Securing a $65 million settlement with Wells Fargo for misleading investors.
• Winning major settlements to end the use of overly broad non-compete agreements that harm low wage workers.

In addition, in June, Attorney General Underwood filed suit against the Trump Foundation and its board of directors for extensive and persistent violations of state and federal law. Last month, the court rejected the Foundation’s motion to dismiss the Attorney General’s case; this week, Attorney General Underwood secured a stipulation dissolving the Foundation under judicial supervision, with Attorney General review of recipient charities. The lawsuit remains ongoing.