I was recently invited to a local fundraiser for Bob Ferguson. Out of respect for the hosts I disclosed that I would read the yet unanswered letter I wrote to him nearly a year ago. I was promptly uninvited. Serving as a court interpreter throughout our state for over thirty years, I have been the voice of murderers, victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, children molested by fathers, a mother who saw her children perish in a house fire. I have not just seen it all—it has all passed through me and never leaves me unscathed. But nothing has ever troubled me as deeply as overly zealous prosecutions and questionable law-enforcement practices. Last September the AG’s office devoted its mighty resources to prosecuting just such a case in a county court. For the first time in my career, I recused myself from further service so I could question the sting operation that led to the conviction of the young immigrant man for whom I was interpreting. A 2021 NYT article about the Net Nanny operation exposed its dubious methods, motives and efficacy. My personal experience in Yakima reflected the same troubling issues that article highlighted. Because I held you, AG Ferguson, in high esteem, I appealed to you to decline to prosecute cases arising out of the Net Nanny stings. Instead, you applauded and took credit for the conviction of a “sex offender,”--a move certain to garner Republican support. With some persistence I ultimately received a factually inaccurate and patronizing response from your chief of staff which failed to address the specific issues I had raised. I supported you wholeheartedly until you used your role as AG not in the service of justice but to advance your political aspirations. I’m still waiting to hear from you, Bob. Win back my vote.

Linda Noble

Port Townsend