Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday addresses critics, grades his first six months

(WHTM) — It’s been six months since Republican Dave Sunday took over as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General. What grade does he give himself, and what are his Democratic critics saying of his early tenure?

“I’m a hard grader,” said Sunday. “I’m a very hard grader, so I’d give myself probably a B, I would say.”

Sunday says being the York County District Attorney

prepared him well for the empathy needed when dealing with crime victims on their worst day.

“They’re not just a number, like they’re humans that have had really bad things happen to them,” said Sunday. “That’s not just a decision you make and sign off on. It’s a life that’s impacted.”

Sunday concedes he’s learning the ropes on the civil side. If anyone sues a state agency, the AG defends it. Consumer protection is his top priority, specifically the downside of artificial intelligence.

“The bad guys are using every technology that’s available to be more effective in trying to scam Pennsylvanians, in particular, senior citizens,” said Sunday. “We have one of the highest populations of aging populations in the country, and so because of that, we are a huge, giant target for these bad actors.”

Democratic critics like consultant Brittany Crampsie blast Sunday for not suing the Trump Administration over funding cuts to schools, birthright citizenship, and not fulfilling a SNAP contract.

“Dozens of other states use their office of Attorney General,” said Crampsie. “He has full strength of that office to act on behalf of citizens, and Dave Sunday has not engaged.”

“You’ve got Attorneys General from all stripes that file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit to get a press hit, to have a press conference and scream and yell about the political issue of the day, and then what happens?” asked Sunday. “A lot of those lawsuits, they just go away and nothing ever comes out of them.”

Sunday’s reluctant to tangle with Trump and state lawmakers who are mulling the legalization of skill games and recreational marijuana, which Sunday believes will lead to more impaired driving and is a public safety threat. However, Sunday says his office will support any decision made by the state legislature.

“I will defend statutes unless and until they’re determined to be unconstitutional,” said Sunday. “That’s the role of the AG.”

Sunday says his personal opinion doesn’t come into play, and it shouldn’t. It’s worth noting that the last four out of five elected Attorneys General ran for Governor, successfully so for Tom Corbett and Josh Shapiro. Is Sunday thinking about it?

“I ran for AG to be the Attorney General, period,” Sunday said. “I think that one of the issues that we see in society is that people are constantly seeking the next thing, and aren’t focused on the task at hand, and I’m not calling anyone out. I’m being very specific about that.”

Sunday says one of the biggest challenges of the job personally is spending so much time away from his wife and 10-year-old son.