Hagåtña, Guam – The Office of the Governor of Guam has submitted two additional Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to Attorney General Doug Moylan, seeking transparency and accountability regarding the unauthorized use of government seals, which is a crime under Guam law, and newly acquired information regarding additional questionable hiring within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The first FOIA request seeks all communications and permits related to the OAG’s use of official government seals on billboards, including but not limited to:

  • The Office of the Governor seal
  • The Guam Department of Labor seal
  • The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center seal
  • The Guam Homeless Coalition seal

It’s a crime to use a government seal without authorization and a permit from the custodian of the seal. The Governor’s Office also seeks any formal opinions issued by the OAG regarding the application of 1 GCA § 414, which governs the lawful use of government seals and the potential criminal penalties for unauthorized usage.

Additionally, the request calls for all applications, drawings, and permits submitted by the OAG to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the erection of billboards since January 1, 2023, as well as invoices, receipts, and purchase orders related to the procurement and installation of these billboards.

The second FOIA request seeks documents related to the OAG’s recent hiring of Takako Guthrie, the spouse of Chief Deputy Attorney General Joseph Guthrie. Her hiring is causing controversy because it appears to be another instance of nepotism within the OAG, as Chief Deputy Guthrie was the individual who approved the hiring of Attorney General Doug Moylan’s brother and fiancée, as well as his fiancée’s promotion to Chief of Staff. 

The Governor’s Office seeks:

  • Documents demonstrating whether any other candidates were considered, interviewed, or recruited for the position.
  • Any advertisements or job postings seeking applicants for the position.
  • Documents outlining any measures taken to screen Chief Deputy Attorney General Joseph Guthrie from participating in hiring decisions, salary determinations, evaluations, or supervision regarding his spouse.
  • Documents screening Attorney General Doug Moylan from participating in similar decisions regarding this hire.

“The Office of the Attorney General is not the Attorney General’s private business. It was not established to house the AG’s unemployed family and friends,” says Adelup Director of Communications Krystal Paco-San Agustin. “The Office of the Attorney General is not allowed unlimited unclassified employees. He is not allowed to hire people as the ‘spoils of victory.’ The Guam Legislature created the classified service specifically to prevent these actions.” 

Transparency and accountability are fundamental to maintaining public trust in government institutions. The Governor’s Office remains committed to upholding these principles and ensuring that public resources and authority are exercised responsibly and in accordance with the law.

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