Washington Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson has agreed to pay $4,000 to settle a state ethics complaint after allowing his fired former top adviser to ride on a taxpayer-funded Washington State Patrol aircraft.
According to the Washington State Standard, the case stems from a June 26, 2025, flight to the Tri-Cities. Ferguson invited Mike Webb, his longtime friend and former chief strategy officer, to join the official trip despite Webb no longer working for the state.
Webb had resigned months earlier following complaints that he created a hostile work environment for women in the governor’s office. By the time of the flight, he was working for the private law firm Singleton Schreiber, where he was involved in efforts related to a wildfire compensation fund. The trip also included a political fundraiser.
Details of the flight added to the controversy. According to accounts provided during the investigation, the governor’s staff occupied six of the plane’s seven seats, leaving Webb seated on a makeshift spot positioned over the aircraft’s toilet.
Under the proposed agreement with the Washington State Executive Ethics Board, Ferguson admits the board could conclude he violated state ethics law. He would pay $2,000 upfront, with the remaining $2,000 suspended if he commits no further violations over the next two years. The board is expected to consider the deal at its May 8 meeting.
The ethics board previously found “reasonable cause” to believe Ferguson violated laws barring the use of state resources for the private benefit of a non-state employee and prohibiting officials from using their positions to grant special privileges.
State Patrol investigators said the aircraft cost $2,094.68 per flight hour. Ferguson argued Webb’s presence did not add fuel, staffing, or time costs and described the use of the plane as “de minimis.” He also claimed Webb received no improper advantage.
The board did not accept that explanation. Executive Director Kate Reynolds concluded Ferguson gave Webb “a special privilege” by allowing him to travel on the state aircraft.
The episode became an early embarrassment for Ferguson’s administration after leaked audio from a staff Zoom call captured him calling his own decision to invite Webb “pretty stupid.”
The settlement allows Ferguson to avoid a public enforcement hearing and a potentially larger fine. State ethics penalties can reach $5,000 per violation.
Ferguson, a Democrat and former state attorney general, has faced previous scrutiny over government transparency and litigation conduct, including a prior court sanction involving his office’s failure to turn over evidence in a lawsuit against the state.
