Living Essentials LLC, the maker of 5-hour ENERGY®, released statements from the company and the founder in response to the recent lawsuits. The company, which is being sued for false advertising by the attorneys general in Washington, Oregon and Vermont, wants to bring to light what’s going on behind closed doors and encourage the public to ask some very important questions: Is it appropriate for an attorney general to ask for money from a company they plan to sue? Is the timing of these lawsuits a coincidence? Isn’t the attorney general supposed to protect us from real criminals? If the attorney general is supposed to look after us, who is looking after the attorney general? 

Official statement from 5-hour ENERGY:
“The attorney general of Washington, Bob Ferguson, called us two weeks ago to solicit a campaign contribution. Now we’re being sued. This isn’t appropriate behavior.

The attorney general of Oregon, Ellen Rosenblum, suggested that if we give them money, the lawsuit would go away. We said no and the lawsuit followed. 

For bad apple politicians, the welfare of their citizens is the last thing on their minds. These folks are motivated by money and getting elected, and they cast a dark shadow on the good politicians who actually care about the citizens of their state.”

Official statement from Manoj Bhargava, founder, 5-hour ENERGY:
“Ninety percent of my money is pledged to charity. I am certainly not going to take it from the poor and give it to the attorney general.”