Washington Gov. Ferguson fined over state plane ethics violation
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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks before signing an executive order in January 2025. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson violated state ethics law last summer by allowing a former aide to ride on a state plane, according to a settlement the state Executive Ethics Board approved Friday.
- The former aide, Mike Webb, had resigned months earlier amid allegations of creating a hostile workplace.
Why it matters: The plane trip — first reported by Axios — violated rules banning the use of state resources for the benefit of non-state employees, the settlement says.
- By giving Webb access to the state plane, Ferguson also used his position to grant Webb special privileges, per the settlement — another violation of the state's Ethics in Public Service Act.
Catch up quick: Webb was Ferguson's chief strategy officer until March 2025, when he resigned after multiple women in the governor's office raised concerns about his workplace conduct. Webb denied the allegations.
- Three months later, in June 2025, Webb rode on the governor's State Patrol-operated aircraft at Ferguson's invitation, flying to the Tri-Cities. While there, he accompanied Ferguson to a meeting with union officials, Webb told Axios last year.
- Webb also had his own meeting in the Tri-Cities that day, according to the settlement.
- The ethics complaint was filed by a private citizen who said they learned about the flight from news coverage.
The latest: Ferguson agreed to a $4,000 fine, with $2,000 to be paid within 45 days. The rest is suspended on the condition that he commits no further ethics violations for two years.
Between the lines: In addition to being former colleagues, Ferguson and Webb are close friends, Webb told Axios last year. Ferguson was a groomsman in Webb's wedding in 2014, according to video from the event.
- At the time of the flight, Webb was working as a public policy director for the private law firm Singleton Schreiber — a position he still holds today.
What they're saying: The settlement states that Ferguson acknowledged that letting Webb ride on the plane "was a mistake and it will not happen again."
- The governor conceded that the plane ride "may have given the wrong impression" that Webb had a role in his administration even after Webb resigned.
- The board said violations like Ferguson's "significantly reduce the public respect and confidence in state government employees," per the stipulation.
- Webb didn't respond to a request for comment.
Flashback: Ferguson had previously argued that the flight was within bounds because Webb occupied a spare seat on the plane. That meant Webb didn't displace a state employee or add costs to the state, the governor said.
Yes, but: Ferguson apologized to his staff last July for letting Webb ride on the plane, calling it "a pretty stupid decision" he wouldn't repeat, according to an audio recording of the meeting shared with Axios.
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