Ed Sniffen
Ed Sniffen is a former acting Alaska attorney general. He succeeded Kevin Clarkson, who resigned on August 25, 2020.[1] On January 18, 2021, Sniffen was appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) as Alaska attorney general, subject to confirmation by the state legislature. On January 29, 2021, Sniffen withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general and resigned as acting attorney general due to allegations of sexual misconduct.[2]
Biography
At the time of his appointment as acting attorney general, Sniffen was serving as deputy attorney general.[3] He previously served in other roles at the Alaska Department of Law, including as chief assistant attorney general for the Regulatory Affairs Section, and chief of staff. Before joining the Department of Law, Sniffen worked in private practice. He received a bachelor's degree in biology and sociology from the College of Idaho, and a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law.[4]
Political career
Attorney General of Alaska (acting) (2020-2021)
Sniffen began serving as acting attorney general on August 25, 2020 due to the resignation of Kevin Clarkson.[3] He resigned on January 29, 2021, due to allegations of sexual misconduct.[2]
Noteworthy events
Sexual misconduct allegations and resignation (2021)
On January 29, 2021, Sniffen announced that he was withdrawing his name from consideration for Alaska attorney general and resigning as acting attorney general due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Nikki Dougherty White had alleged that she and Sniffen began a sexual relationship in 1991 when she was 17 years old and a student in high school. Sniffen was a coach of her mock trial team at the time. Under an Alaska law passed in 1990, it is illegal for an adult to have a sexual relationship with a 16- or 17-year-old whom they were teaching, counseling or coaching.[2]
Sniffen was charged with three felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor in September 2022. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on September 26 of that year.[5]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ ProPublica, "Alaska’s Attorney General Resigns Hours After We Published “Uncomfortable” Texts He Sent to a Younger Colleague," August 25, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Anchorage Daily News, "Sexual misconduct allegations prompt another Alaska attorney general to resign," January 31, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alaska Public Media, "Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson resigns," August 25, 2020
- ↑ JDSupra, "New AG on the Block: Alaska Attorney General Clyde “Ed” Sniffen Jr.," January 25, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Public Media, "Ex-Alaska attorney general pleads not guilty to sexual abuse," September 27, 2022
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| Preceded by Kevin Clarkson |
Attorney General of Alaska 2020-2021 |
Succeeded by Treg Taylor |
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