It started as a typical summer night in Newport. Warm air, the smell of salt from the harbor, and the high-end hum of the Clarke Cooke House. But for Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan, a Thursday night in August 2025 shifted from a casual "girls' night out" to a viral nightmare that would stall a seven-year legal career.
Most people know the name because of a few seconds of bodycam footage. You’ve probably seen it. The red dress, the flashing lights, and the repeated phrase: "I'm an AG." It’s the kind of video that makes the rounds on social media for all the wrong reasons. But beyond the headlines about a "booze-fueled tirade," there’s a real person whose career in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office is now hanging by a thread.
The Night at Clarke Cooke House
On August 14, 2025, police were called to the Clarke Cooke House around 10:00 PM. The staff reported that two women—Flanagan and her friend, Veronica Hannan—were refusing to leave the premises. Honestly, these calls happen all the time in resort towns like Newport. Usually, people just take the hint and find another bar.
This time was different.
When officers arrived, Flanagan didn't just walk away. Instead, she leaned on her professional status. The bodycam footage, which was later released by the Newport Police Department, captured a tense exchange. Flanagan is heard asking officers to turn off their cameras—a request they flatly denied, given that she was the subject of a police call.
✨ Don't miss: Mayor of Mexico City: What Most People Get Wrong
"I'm an AG. I'm an AG," she repeated.
It didn't work. One officer’s response was blunt: "Good for you."
Things escalated. As she was being placed into a patrol car, Flanagan told an officer, "Buddy, you're gonna regret this. You're gonna regret it." It’s a line that has since been dissected by legal experts and armchair critics alike.
The Fallout: Six Months of Silence
After the video went viral, the Rhode Island Attorney General, Peter Neronha, found himself in a tough spot. He’s a guy who talks a lot about professional standards. Suddenly, one of his own appellate prosecutors was the face of a trespassing arrest.
🔗 Read more: Why Pictures of Homicide Scenes Are Harder to Find Than You Think (and Why That Matters)
Neronha didn't fire her immediately. Instead, he took some time to "think really carefully" about it. On August 25, 2025, the hammer finally dropped. Flanagan was placed on a six-month unpaid leave.
Basically, she’s sitting at home for half a year without a paycheck. Considering her annual salary was reportedly around $113,000, that’s a $56,000 hit to her bank account. That’s a pretty expensive night out in Newport.
Neronha’s statement was surprisingly personal. He said she "mistreated the Newport Police Department and embarrassed herself, the Office, and frankly me." You don't often hear a boss use the word "embarrassed" so candidly in a press release.
A No-Contest Plea and the Road Back
By late August, Flanagan was back in a courtroom, but this time she was the defendant. She pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of willful trespass. For those who aren't law nerds, a "no contest" plea means you aren't admitting guilt, but you’re admitting the state has enough evidence to convict you.
The judge gave her a six-month filing. If she stays out of trouble for those six months, the charge can be dropped. She also had to write apology letters to the officers involved and was ordered to stay away from the Clarke Cooke House.
Before this incident, Devon Flanagan had a pretty solid reputation. She had worked for the state for seven years, specifically in the Appellate Unit of the Criminal Division. Her job was to represent the state when people tried to overturn their convictions. It’s high-stakes work.
Critics, like some at the Cato Institute, have pointed out the irony here. They argue that prosecutors who spend their days trying to put people in jail should be held to a higher standard when they’re the ones breaking the rules. It’s a fair point. If a regular person threatened a cop during a trespassing arrest, would they get a second chance?
Why This Story Stays in the News
The reason people are still talking about Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan isn't just because of the "Karen" vibes of the video. It touches on something deeper—the idea of entitlement.
Her attorney, Kevin Hagan, argued she was "caught off guard" and had no prior run-ins with the law. He described her as a "law-abiding, productive member of society." And honestly, that’s probably true 99% of the time. But in the age of the internet, that 1% of bad behavior is what sticks.
So, what’s next for her?
Her suspension should be wrapping up in early 2026. Whether she actually returns to her desk in the Criminal Division is still a bit of a question mark. Neronha has said he believes "our worst moments can inspire us to become better people." Whether the public—or the Newport Police—agrees is another story.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Newport Incident
If there’s anything to learn from the Devon Flanagan saga, it’s not just "don't get drunk in Newport." There are a few real takeaways here for anyone in a professional position:
- The "AG" Title is a Shield, Not a Sword: Professional credentials should be used to build credibility, not to bypass local laws. Using your job to try and intimidate law enforcement almost always backfires.
- Bodycams are the New Reality: In 2026, everything is recorded. If you’re interacting with police, assume you are being filmed. There is no "off" button for public officials.
- Reputation Recovery Takes Time: A no-contest plea might resolve the legal issue, but the "reputational damage," as some analysts have noted, lasts much longer than a six-month filing.
- Apologies Matter, but Actions Matter More: Flanagan sent letters of apology to the officers. While some saw this as "too little, too late," it is a necessary first step in any professional rehabilitation process.
The legal world is small. Whether Devon Flanagan can move past this and return to being a respected appellate attorney depends entirely on what she does with her time away from the office. For now, she remains a cautionary tale about how quickly a decade of hard work can be overshadowed by a single bad night.
Next Steps for Following This Case
To stay updated on the status of the Rhode Island Attorney General's office or Flanagan's potential return to the bar, you can monitor the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal for any updates on her filing status or check the official RI Attorney General's website for personnel announcements.