Tensions Flare at Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting Amid Lawsuit, Ethics Probe

WA Fish and Wildlife panel confronts high tensions and harsh testimony

Cory Maxwell of Kitsap County (left) called on some members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to step down in public comments on April 17, 2026. Rachel Bjork and Francisco Santiago-Avila look on. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/ Washington State Standard)Surly public comments are a staple of Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings, revealing the deeply personal stakes of those fighting over how far the state should go in protecti…

Tensions Flare at Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting Amid Lawsuit, Ethics Probe

OLYMPIA, WA – Surly public comments are a staple of Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings, revealing the deeply personal stakes of those fighting over how far the state should go in protecting various species or allowing for hunting or fishing. But last week’s session carried a slightly harsher tone, fueled by an investigation into whether commissioners violated open meetings and public records statutes ahead of a decision in 2022 to …