PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tamara Rubin, the Portland woman whose blog about lead in fidget spinners caught the attention of the US Public Interest Research Group, was arraigned Wednesday on 9 charges, including 7 for theft.
Rubin, 48, entered not guilty pleas in a Multnomah County court on the charges. The other 2 charges are obtaining or trying to obtain public assistance or food stamps.
The charges date back to late 2014 and continue through October 31, 2016, court documents show. She’s accused of 1st-degree theft on 7 different occasions. On her Facebook Page, Lead Safe Mama, Rubin declares that she is falsely accused, has hired an attorney and plans to prove her innocence.
Her next court date is set for January 16, 2018.
Just earlier this month, her Lead Safe Mama blog garnered national attention after she said she tested hundreds of fidget spinners and found them to have levels of lead. Her Facebook page has more than 15,000 followers.
When US PIRG tested fidget spinners , 2 of them showed high levels of lead.
Rubin told CBS News she is a mother of 4 with sons who still suffered from lead exposure in her home 12 years ago.