UPDATE: Attorney General Douglas Moylan has launched a lawsuit against the Leon Guerrero administration, alleging the administration is unlawfully withholding payments for contracted attorneys handling critical legal work for the government of Guam. This urgent action arrives amidst escalating tensions between the AG’s office and the governor’s team, highlighting a significant conflict over legal expenditures.
In a petition filed in the Superior Court of Guam on October 16, Moylan seeks a court order to compel the administration to fulfill its financial obligations to attorneys providing essential services. He claims the refusal to pay threatens the welfare of communities across the islands, stating, “This Governor for months now has ‘messed’ with the Attorney General’s ability to hire and pay for attorneys to serve our client.”
The lawsuit names several attorneys with outstanding invoices, including William Pole ($25,520), Consovoy McCarthy PLLC ($20,017.50), and Edward C. Han ($4,600). The AG’s office asserts these contracts were lawfully acquired and that the governor lacks the authority to interfere with the AG’s hiring processes.
Moylan’s petition also requests the court to declare the administration’s actions as an unlawful withholding of ministerial duty, aiming to prevent further interference from the governor and the Department of Administration (DOA) Director Ed Birn. He has called on lawmakers to defund the governor’s legal team and to initiate an oversight hearing regarding the DOA.
In response, Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin stated the Office of the Governor would not comment on pending litigation. However, the administration’s rationale for denying payments is detailed in correspondence between the AG’s office and the governor’s legal counsel, which is included in the court petition. The governor’s lawyers previously claimed that contracts worth approximately $1.5 million had been improperly secured by Moylan’s office.
The legal dispute has roots in a June 16 email from Deputy Attorney General Lee Miller to Adelup legal counsel Jeffrey Moots. This communication requested the governor’s approval for several legal contracts. Despite the AG’s office’s insistence on the critical nature of these services, Moots indicated on October 13 that the Pole contract would be rejected as it was not procured according to Guam law.
This ongoing conflict is part of a broader pattern of legal confrontations between Moylan’s office and the Leon Guerrero administration, primarily surrounding issues related to the Mangilao hospital project.
As developments unfold, observers are urged to watch for the court’s response and any potential implications for the functioning of the AG’s office and legal representation within the government of Guam. The urgency of this case could have lasting impacts on legal operations and community welfare across the islands.
