Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson violated state ethics law by allowing a former aide to fly on a state aircraft for personal travel, according to a ruling by the Washington State Executive Ethics Board.
The board concluded Ferguson improperly used state resources and granted a special privilege when he invited former Chief Strategy Officer Mike Webb to join him on a Washington State Patrol plane in June 2025.
The incident stemmed from a complaint filed on July 30, 2025, alleging Ferguson permitted a private citizen to travel on a taxpayer-funded aircraft assigned for official gubernatorial use. The complaint said Webb, who had left state employment months earlier, was traveling for non-government purposes.
According to stipulated facts accepted by the board, Webb resigned from the governor’s office in March 2025 but was allowed to accompany Ferguson on a June 26 flight to the Tri-Cities, where both had separate engagements. Ferguson said he offered Webb an empty seat on the plane because the flight was not at capacity.
Ferguson acknowledged the decision was a mistake, stating in a written response that the invitation “may have given the wrong impression” that Webb still had a role in the administration.
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