The Washington Attorney General’s Office has declined to pursue two criminal complaints filed against Blaine officials and a Blaine resident, concluding that one allegation involving Mayor Mary Lou Steward was “more political than criminal in nature” and that another complaint involving comments made during a City Council meeting was unlikely to result in a criminal harassment conviction.
In a letter to Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey, the Attorney General’s Office said the evidence presented did not establish a reasonable likelihood of conviction. The complaints were submitted by one of several individuals who have filed complaints against Blaine city officials and police officers over the past several years.
The first complaint alleged Steward improperly used her position as mayor while conducting city business. The second involved comments made by a Blaine resident during a City Council meeting in October 2025 that some residents perceived as threatening.
The Attorney General’s declination takes place as a separate review by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission continues investigating complaints from the same resident and two others over the same incident in October.
This was a confusing week for all parties involved with the commission’s investigation, beginning with a posting on its website saying the investigation was closed and that it had declined to pursue the complaints. The commission also sent a letter Monday to the Blaine Police saying it did not intend to pursue the complaints and expects Letters of Good Standing to be issued. However, the CJTC investigation remains open and a final report has not yet been released. Blaine police and two of the three complainants confirmed the investigation is continuing.
Altogether, the three individuals have complained to the Blaine Police Department itself, Whatcom County Council members, state senators and representatives, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Ferndale Police Department, Whatcom County Prosecutor, FBI, Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the CJTC. With the exception of CJTC, all have either declined to investigate or have closed their investigations after finding no evidence of police wrongdoing.
