WSBA considers lawyer’s suspension over election fraud lawsuit

WSBA considers lawyer's suspension over election fraud lawsuit

A Washington attorney has been suspended for two years after filing a lawsuit over voter registration data. Virginia Shogren, who represented the Washington Election Integrity Coalition United (WEICU), faced disciplinary action from the state’s bar association. The case has sparked debate over legal ethics and election integrity claims.

The dispute began when Shogren sued the Washington Secretary of State’s Office for refusing to release voter registration records. The lawsuit alleged that non-citizens were illegally voting, but the Washington State Supreme Court Commissioner, Michael Johnston, dismissed it as baseless. Johnston, a former U.S. State Department official, had previously rejected a separate WEICU claim against Ukraine in 2024 for lacking evidence.

Shogren argued that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) targeted her because of the lawsuit’s subject matter, not her conduct. She refused to cooperate with the bar investigation, insisting she deserved a jury trial. However, hearing officer Ben Attanasio ruled that the proceeding was not criminal and that she had no right to one.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) ultimately suspended Shogren for two years, citing a frivolous lawsuit. She has since appealed the decision, claiming the complaint aims to silence attorneys and small nonprofits pushing for election transparency.

Meanwhile, the federal government is now pursuing its own legal action against the Secretary of State’s Office over the same voter data dispute.

Shogren’s suspension remains in place while her appeal moves through the WSBA’s Disciplinary Board. The case highlights tensions between election integrity advocates and legal oversight bodies. The federal lawsuit over voter records could further prolong the controversy.