Shemia Fagan has been under fire ever since she got involved in a scandal in 2023. The whole issue started when she took a job with a cannabis company while auditing the industry as Oregon Secretary of State. This was, of course, a big no-no. The Oregon Ethics Commission soon investigated her. Fagan decided to resign during the process, but that didn’t allow her to get off scot-free. The woman proposed a $1,600 fine, but the Ethics Commission rejected it. They believed it was too small and doubled it to $3,600. However, the commissioners also noted that they appreciated her apology before they voted to increase the fine. Fagan said that she would accept whatever fine they decided on, as she was deeply sorry for what she had done.
Not everyone supported a higher fine for Shemia Fagan, as some commissioners didn’t believe she had done anything wrong. A prime example was Vice Chair Shenoa Payne, who thought the penalty was unnecessary. Unfortunately for her, most commissioners disagreed, agreeing that Fagan should face a harsher fine. Many felt it was important to make an example out of her to ensure future state officials would not repeat the same mistakes.
While the commissioners are satisfied with the new fine, not everyone shares their sentiment. Many online users still feel that Fagan got off too easy. “Charge her $1 million. Set an example,” one Reddit user remarked. Others argued that the fine should be based on the amount she earned from her side job. Reports reveal that Fagan was paid $10,000 a month for her consulting role, meaning the fine could have been much higher if it were based on that income.
Others found Fagan’s apology absurd, with some even criticizing the commissioners for appreciating it. “They appreciated an apology. Get the hell out of here with this. Public fraud and abuse of position for financial gain, but because she apologized, she only gets a $3,600 fine? No wonder people think there’s a two-tier justice system,” one user commented.
One user even mentioned that they emailed the commissioners when they first heard about the initial fine. They felt the $1,600 fine was too small and that the $3,600 increase wasn’t a significant improvement. They also criticized Payne for believing Fagan should be let off the hook. “Oh please tell us more about what you FEEL, Ms. Payne. I FEEL like you’re not doing your job,” the user said.
