LETTER TO THE WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL

WHAT I WROTE TO THEM AND THEIR RESPONSE

ME:

Dear Bob Ferguson,

I trust this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to bring to your esteemed attention a profoundly troubling issue that has been adversely affecting my life and the lives of numerous individuals within our community: the insidious phenomenon of stalking, which appears to be executed through tactics reminiscent of the notorious COINTELPRO operations.

COINTELPRO, or the Counterintelligence Program, was an infamous series of covert and frequently illicit activities orchestrated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the objective of surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations. Although COINTELPRO was officially terminated several decades ago, the pernicious tactics associated with it—such as relentless harassment, intimidation, and invasive surveillance—seem to persist in various guises in contemporary society.

Over the past 11 years, I have been subjected to relentless frequent home invasions, illegal wiretapping, intrusive covert surveillance, smear campaigns, slander and defamation, property destruction and vandalism, sexual violence and sexual assault, off leash dogs, and public harassment. These actions have not only egregiously invaded my privacy but have also inflicted significant emotional distress and engendered a pervasive sense of fear for my personal safety. I am compelled to believe that these tactics are being employed with the ulterior motive of suppressing my political activities, personal beliefs, etc., which constitutes a flagrant violation of my constitutionally enshrined rights.

In light of the gravity of this situation, I earnestly implore you to take immediate and decisive action to address this issue. Specifically, I respectfully request that you:

1. Initiate a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the deployment of COINTELPRO-like tactics within our community, with the aim of identifying and holding accountable those responsible for these egregious actions.

2. Advocate for the enactment of more robust legal protections against stalking and harassment, ensuring that individuals who engage in such reprehensible behavior are met with stringent legal consequences.

3. Support the passage of legislation that mandates greater accountability and transparency in the operations of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, thereby safeguarding the civil liberties and rights of all citizens.

It is of paramount importance that we, as a society, uphold the principles of justice and liberty. No individual should be targeted for their beliefs or activities. I have full confidence in your commitment to justice and trust that you will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it warrants, working diligently towards ensuring the safety and well-being of all constituents.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue. I eagerly anticipate your response and the implementation of meaningful measures to address these concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ciara Tavares

THEM:

Dear Ciara Tavares,

Thank you for reaching out to the Attorney General’s Office. I am a member of the Office’s Policy team and am writing in response to your email. We are grateful that you have taken the time to write to us.

In your correspondence you asked the Attorney General’s office to initiate an investigation into the deployment of COINTELPRO-like tactics. Please know that though the Attorney General’s Office has broad civil powers, our office does not have authority or jurisdiction with respect to criminal matters. Under state law and the Washington State Constitution, the Attorney General’s Office cannot investigate or prosecute a criminal violation without receiving and accepting a referral from a county prosecutor or the Governor. In addition, our office does not employ general authority law enforcement officers. We primarily serve as the law office for the state, combat illegal discrimination, and protect consumers from unfair and deceptive conduct from businesses.

For assistance with criminal matters, please call 911 if the incident is occurring or just occurred. You can also call your local police if the incident already occurred, and the immediate danger is over without injuries. For emotional support, please call or text 988.

You may also be interested in the Crime Victims Compensation (CVC) program. This program works to reduce the financial impact of violent crime on eligible victims and their families. For those who qualify, the program can pay for medical and mental health treatment, medication, grief counseling, partial wage loss replacement, and other expenses, such as co-pays and deductibles, not covered by other insurance. For more information on the program, visit https://lni.wa.gov/claims/crime-victim-claims/apply-for-crime-victim-benefits. Note that in some cases, you do not have to work with law enforcement to qualify for CVC. Based on a law passed during the 2024 Legislative Session, the director of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries can determine that working with law enforcement may jeopardize the victim’s health, safety or well-being.

To suggest changes to state law, you may wish to speak with your state legislators, who are responsible for introducing new laws and changing old ones to better serve their constituents. To get connected to your legislators, call the Legislative Hotline at 1.800.562.6000 or visit https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder.

Finally, if you are looking for legal advice, you may wish to contact a private attorney. Please know the AGO is prohibited from serving as counsel, providing legal advice, or rendering opinions for individuals. You may be able to get advice, assistance, or referrals to local attorneys from one of the following:

• The Washington State Bar Association Lawyer Referral services at http://www.wsba.org/Resources-and-Services/Find-Legal-Help

• The Northwest Justice Project at 1-888-201-1014 or

http://nwjustice.org/

• Legal Voice, formerly known as the Northwest Women’s Law Center,

http://legalvoice.org/

• Columbia Legal Services 1-800-542-0794, or

http://www.columbialegal.org

• Washington Law Help,

http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org

I hope this information proves helpful to you and wish you well. Thank you again for contacting our office.

Sincerely,

Simrun Chhabra (she/they)

Policy Analyst | Policy Team

Office of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson