The Idaho State Bar is investigating Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador after a complaint was filed by former Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen. The complaint, filed in June 2023, alleges that Labrador’s office failed to provide adequate legal representation to the state’s largest government agency, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, creating a hostile working environment and damaging trust.
Jeppesen claims that legal conflicts between the Attorney General’s office and the health department have hindered the department’s operations. Labrador’s office, however, denies the allegations, calling them “baseless” and expressing confidence that the complaint will be dismissed.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Idaho State Bar also looking into a separate complaint involving Lincoln Davis Wilson, a former attorney in the Attorney General’s office who now works for the Alliance Defending Freedom.
Jeppesen shared his complaint and related documents with the media, leading Labrador’s office to criticize the breach of confidentiality. The Idaho State Bar typically keeps such investigations confidential unless formal charges are filed.
Since taking office in January 2023, Labrador has had several legal clashes with state agencies, including the Department of Health and Welfare. Jeppesen’s complaint focuses on Labrador’s handling of an investigation into the department’s distribution of $72 million in child care grants, which led to further legal conflicts.
The Idaho State Bar’s investigation may take several months to complete, and the outcome remains uncertain.