AG's billboard battle

A candidate for Guam’s next attorney general is taking the current ag to court, claiming taxpayer money is being used to promote religion. But Attorney General Douglas Moylan says the campaign is about public safety - not faith.

Attorney and former senator Thomas Fisher has filed suit in superior court, targeting Moylan’s latest billboard campaign tied to his upcoming “3Rs” initiative—Repent, Reform and Respect.  Fisher argues the campaign crosses a legal line, accusing the AG of misusing public funds and promoting religious messaging in violation of both the United States Constitution and Guam’s Organic Act.

The billboards feature imagery resembling the Ten Commandments—alongside phrases like “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” and “Thou shalt not take meth.”

“Mr. Moylan’s billboards are paid for with public funds and advance a public, nonprivate attempt to proselytize a religious belief at public expense.” Fisher filed the complaint under a local law allowing taxpayers to challenge government spending they believe is unlawful—claiming each billboard cost more than $1,000.

His lawsuit also points to religious imagery—including depictions of moses, a dove, and references to the Ark of the Covenant—as evidence the campaign lacks a clear secular purpose.

Fisher states, “The billboards promote a Judeo-Christian religious orthodoxy without any secular context.”

But Moylan is pushing back, calling the lawsuit misguided and defending the campaign as part of a broader diversion program aimed at reducing crime. “Of course the funding is from taxpayer funds," he declared. "It is clearly part of my elected job to take all steps to protect the community.”

The attorney general says the imagery is symbolic—not religious—and meant to support a program focused on accountability, restitution, and second chances.

“Well, this billboard heralds a project by this AG that addresses that perceived insensitivity.  It creates a chance for what will be a category of criminals to take responsibility for their crimes, make amends to their crime victims and earn their way out of being prosecuted by hard work and restitution to their victims and my client, the people of Guam.”

Moylan also brushed-off criticism over the religious references, saying, “The imagery is for effect and anyone who has actually gone to church knows that the imagery is not the actual Ten Commandments.”

The lawsuit now sets up a legal test over where public messaging ends—and religious expression begins—while also adding another layer to the growing political race for attorney general.