Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jeff Landry

Public opinion and media debates around Jeff Landry—discover key moments of controversy.

Jeff Landry is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the 57th Governor of Louisiana since 2024. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Landry previously held the position of the 45th Attorney General of Louisiana from 2016 to 2024. Before his tenure as Attorney General, he represented Louisiana's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. His career reflects a trajectory through various levels of Louisiana's political landscape.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

September 2011: Held Up Sign During Obama Speech

In September 2011, Jeff Landry made national headlines by holding up a sign saying "Drilling=jobs" during Obama's national jobs plan speech.

June 2012: Claimed Special Status for Muslims at TSA

In June 2012, Jeff Landry falsely claimed that the Obama administration was granting special status or waivers to Muslims during TSA screenings on a radio program.

July 2012: Opposed LGBT Studies Minor

In July 2012, Jeff Landry opposed the establishment of a minor in LGBT studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and asked the university's president to drop the minor.

August 2012: Urged Elimination of LGBT Studies Minor

In August 2012, Jeff Landry urged the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to eliminate its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies minor.

2015: Dispute Over Common Core Lawsuit

In 2015, Jeff Landry had a public dispute with Governor Edwards over a lawsuit regarding the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Landry initially wanted to proceed with the appeal but later deferred to Edwards.

September 2016: Blocked Contracts Protecting Gay Employees

In September 2016, Jeff Landry blocked Governor Edwards's attempt to require state contracts to protect gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

December 14, 2016: Judge Ruled Edwards's Order Unconstitutional

On December 14, 2016, Judge Todd Hernandez declared Governor Edwards's order, which sought to protect gay and lesbian employees from discrimination, unconstitutional.

2016: Dispute with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu over crime

In 2016, Jeff Landry disputed with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu over failed efforts to curtail street crime in New Orleans, claiming the city was more dangerous than Chicago. Landry created a task force without consulting the Louisiana State Police or the New Orleans Police Department, leading to accusations of overreach and jeopardizing officer safety.

March 2017: Landry Criticized Edwards's Budget Cuts

In March 2017, Jeff Landry criticized Governor Edwards for seeking cuts in the attorney general's office budget while state highways were failing.

April 2017: Lawsuit against Governor Edwards over escrow funds

In April 2017, Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit against Governor Edwards disputing the freezing of $4 million in an escrow fund obtained from a pharmaceutical settlement in 2013. Landry argued his office was entitled to the funds to meet its budget, while Edwards accused Landry of fighting budget cuts impacting other state offices.

July 2017: Threat to litigate against Trump administration over DACA

In July 2017, Jeff Landry joined a group of Republican attorneys general, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in threatening the Donald Trump administration with litigation if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy was not terminated.

2017: Started Misspending Campaign Funds

Starting in 2017, Jeff Landry misspent campaign funds on part of a car note for a Chevrolet Suburban.

2019: Declined to support the SAFE Banking Act

In 2019, Jeff Landry declined to sign a letter in support of the SAFE Banking Act, which aimed to permit marijuana-related businesses to utilize the banking system, demonstrating his stance on the marijuana industry.

2019: End of Car Note Payments

In 2019, the $322 monthly payments ended totaling about $11,600 for Jeff Landry's car note.

December 8, 2020: Joined lawsuit to overturn 2020 presidential election results

On December 8, 2020, Jeff Landry joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election by challenging election processes in states where Joe Biden won. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the suit on December 11.

November 2021: Lawsuit alleging concealment of records and retaliation

In November 2021, Matthew Derbes, a former deputy director in the district attorney's office, sued Jeff Landry, alleging he concealed records related to Derbes's sexual harassment complaints and retaliated against him after he reported inappropriate behavior by his supervisor.

December 2021: Urged Disciplinary Action Against Professor

In December 2021, Jeff Landry urged Louisiana State University president William Tate to take disciplinary action against professor Robert Mann for referring to one of Landry's staff members as a "flunkie" on Twitter.

2021: Landry Criticizes Woodward's Contracts with Football Coaches

In 2021, Jeff Landry criticized the contracts that Scott Woodward reached with football coaches Jimbo Fisher and Brian Kelly, highlighting the financial implications.

2021: Sued federal government over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

In 2021, Jeff Landry sued the federal government over a requirement that health care workers be vaccinated against COVID-19, denouncing it as an unconstitutional attack.

July 2022: State's Near-Total Abortion Ban

In July 2022, Louisiana had a near-total ban of abortion.

August 2022: Urged Delay of Power Station Funding

In August 2022, Jeff Landry twice urged the Louisiana State Bond Commission to delay funding for a power station in New Orleans due to the city's decriminalization of abortion.

September 2022: Bond Commission Approved Funding

In September 2022, the Louisiana State Bond Commission approved funding for a power station in New Orleans despite Jeff Landry's objections.

December 2022: Established 'Protecting Minors' Tip Line

In December 2022, Jeff Landry established a tip line called "Protecting Minors" to address concerns about the sexualization of children in schools and libraries.

December 2022: Misspent Campaign Funds Investigation Revealed

In December 2022, an investigation revealed that Jeff Landry had misspent campaign funds starting in 2017 on a portion of a car note. The statute of limitations had expired on any action that could have been taken.

February 2023: Drafted "Protecting Innocence" Report

In February 2023, Jeff Landry drafted a report titled "Protecting Innocence" that focuses on libraries and supports legislation restricting minors' access to certain materials.

September 2023: Charged with ethics violations

In September 2023, the Louisiana Board of Ethics charged Jeff Landry with accepting a gift and private air travel from campaign donors in relation to his position as state attorney general, claiming he did not report complimentary flights in financial disclosures. Landry dismissed the charges as election interference.

2023: Fisher's Buyout

In 2023, Jimbo Fisher received a buyout of nearly $77 million after being fired, and Kelly would be owed a nearly $54 million buyout.

March 2024: Reversed criminal justice reforms

In March 2024, Jeff Landry signed several bills reversing the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiative, eliminating parole, cutting convicts' ability to earn points for good behavior, increasing penalties for carjackings and weapons offenses, and permitting two more methods of execution: nitrogen gas and electrocution. He also signed a bill to allow concealed handguns without permits.

June 2024: Law enacted excluding civil disobedience from free speech protections on college campuses

In June 2024, Jeff Landry enacted a law that excludes acts of civil disobedience from free speech protections on college campuses. Senate Bill 294, introduced by Senator Valarie Hodges, was presented as a pro-free speech measure, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian protests.

June 2024: Mandated posting of Ten Commandments in public schools

In June 2024, Louisiana became the first state to mandate posting the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law, calling it "one of my favorites" and expressing anticipation for lawsuits. Civil liberties groups challenged the law shortly after its signing.

November 2024: Landry Urges Disciplinary Action Against Professor Bryner

In November 2024, Jeff Landry urged LSU to take disciplinary action against professor Nicholas Bryner after a video of Bryner's comments on the 2024 presidential election was shared on social media. Landry criticized Bryner's remarks about voters who supported Donald Trump.

2024: Political donations from Pfizer

As of 2024, Jeff Landry has accepted $25,000 in political donations from American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Pfizer.

2024: Loosened vaccine requirements and limited public health authority

In 2024, Jeff Landry signed five bills into law that loosened vaccine requirements, limited the power of public health authorities, and cast doubt on the safety of vaccines.

January 14, 2025: Professor Ken Levy Criticizes Landry

On January 14, 2025, LSU law professor Ken Levy criticized Jeff Landry for his treatment of professor Bryner. Levy also commented on case law and Donald Trump, and identified as a Democrat, which subsequently led to his removal from his teaching position.

February 10, 2025: Finalized new execution protocol

On February 10, 2025, Jeff Landry announced that the state had finalized its new execution protocol, allowing executions to be carried out in Louisiana for the first time in 15 years.

March 18, 2025: Jessie Hoffman Jr. executed by nitrogen hypoxia

On March 18, 2025, Jessie Hoffman Jr., convicted of murder in 1996, was executed by nitrogen hypoxia, becoming the first person executed in Louisiana since 2010. Louisiana became the second state to conduct a nitrogen gas execution, after Alabama.

June 11, 2025: Kimberly Terrell Resigns Amid Concerns Over Clinic's Research

On June 11, 2025, Kimberly Terrell, director at Tulane University's Environmental Law Clinic, resigned after concerns arose that the clinic's research on the petrochemical industry's impact could jeopardize Tulane's downtown expansion project. Terrell claimed that Jeff Landry threatened to veto state funding unless action was taken regarding the clinic, a claim Landry denies.

July 22, 2025: Landry Signs Executive Order to Join CPHE

On July 22, 2025, Jeff Landry signed an executive order for Louisiana to join the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), an alternative accrediting body, alongside other state university systems. This was in response to concerns about the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requirements regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

2025: Landry Criticized for Response to New Orleans Truck Attack

In 2025, Jeff Landry faced criticism for his response to the New Orleans truck attack. Hours after the attack, he posted a smiling photo of himself with his wife and others outside a steakhouse. He defended his actions by stating that Louisiana does not cower to terrorists and that businesses remain open.