Utah Attorney General John Swallow: Why me?
I have relatives that live in Utah, particularly Ogden. I know historically and even today, the state has always been conservative, particularly with the Mormon community's clout throughout the state.
However, even in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats by a huge margin in voter registration and one which not a single Democratic presidential candidate would ever win (unless he's a real smooth talker), never say never if you're talking about controversy or scandal.
In the case of Utah Attorney General John Swallow, this definitely takes the cake:
http://www.sltrib.com/...
Embattled St. George businessman Jeremy Johnson says new Utah Attorney General John Swallow helped broker a deal in 2010 in which Johnson believed he was to pay Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid $600,000 to make a federal investigation into Johnson's company go away.
But when the federal government filed a lawsuit Johnson thought he had paid to quash, he demanded Swallow return some of the $250,000 initial payment. Then, just days before the Nov. 6 election, Johnson engaged in a frenetic but unsuccessful effort to get Swallow to drop out of the race, saying information about what Johnson called a "bribe" would come out and force the Republican's resignation if he became attorney general.
Johnson's allegations come less than a week after Swallow took the oath of office. Federal agents have interviewed several Utahns about Johnson's relationship with Swallow, among other issues, according to those interviewed. The FBI would not comment.
Furthermore:
The documents appear to support Johnson's story that in 2010 Swallow brokered a deal between Johnson and Richard M. Rawle, owner of the Provo-based payday-loan company Check City, to enlist Rawle to use his influence to get Reid involved on behalf of Johnson and I Works, Johnson's Internet marketing company that was under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.
Swallow emphatically denies Johnson's allegations and said he doesn't understand why Johnson is spreading lies about him.
"Any suggestion by Mr. Johnson that I have been involved in illegal or inappropriate activity regarding his FTC case or any other matter is false and defamatory," Swallow said.
But Swallow can't shake this off:
Copies of emails show Swallow worked with Shurtleff to arrange meetings between Johnson and top Utah officeholders.
Then, with the FTC investigation continuing, Johnson said Swallow suggested Reid could make problems with regulators go away — for a price.
"I said, 'OK, what do I need to do?' He's like, 'OK, it costs money,' " Johnson said, who claimed Swallow was adamant he make a deal.
"I think he told me, 'Richard Rawle has a connection with Harry Reid,' " Johnson said.
He said Swallow at first wanted $2 million to enlist Reid's help. But I Works was no longer profitable and he did not have the money, Johnson said, so they eventually agreed on $300,000 upfront and $300,000 later.
The full article by the Salt Lake City Tribute is here:
http://www.sltrib.com/...
The Utah Democratic Party, not a state Democratic party known for being receptive to progressive Democrats like XMission founder and CEO Pete Ashdown (who ran for the U.S. Senate against Orrin Hatch in 2006 and lost the 2012 Democratic U.S. Senate primary), seized on this scandal and offered the following statement:
http://www.abc4.com/...
Currently those investigations are being conducted in private, but democrats are calling for the Utah legislature to hold its own hearing in full public view.
“All of these offices are high offices, are elected offices they are extremely high profile of the highest levels of our state government,” said Matt Lyon, of the Utah Democratic Party. “The public has a right to know what is happening we have the right to know the allegations that are being brought against our highest public officials.”
However, Swallow may be losing friends as even Utah Governor Gary Herbert, also a Republican, is not pleased with what's going on:
http://www.sltrib.com/...
West Valley City
Gov. Gary Herbert is "increasingly alarmed" at reports of ethical violations by John Swallow and said he would have fired Utah’s attorney general if Swallow worked for him.
"I can tell you from my own viewpoint, again, I’m increasingly alarmed with the stuff that’s bubbling out, what I consider ethical challenges, ethical violations," Herbert said Tuesday. "I can only say if he worked with me before, with all that is coming out, he wouldn’t be working for me today."
The governor, however, said he would not call on Swallow to resign from his elective office.
"That’s something John Swallow needs to determine for himself," Herbert said. "He needs to look at what’s in the best interest of his family. He needs to look at what’s in the best interest of the state."
John Swallow fired back with a written statement:
Swallow issued a written statement Tuesday night.
"I have admired the governor for speaking out that due process should be followed and I am saddened he has grown impatient with the process," Swallow said.
"What happened to me could happen to anybody," Swallow’s statement added, "and I still believe we should put our faith in fairness, facts and evidence rather than allegations, rumors and speculation shared through the media."
However, Swallow's statement will do nothing to ease down the frustration Governor Herbert has with the whole investigation, which appears to have gone far too long:
The Republican governor again expressed his desire to see the Swallow investigations — including one that involves resources from Herbert’s own Department of Public Safety — wrap up quickly, one way or the other.
"Particularly when we talk about the Department of Justice, they need to be methodical, they need to be thorough, they need to take as much time as they need, but not one day longer," Herbert said. "This is a cloud over Utah, and it needs to be removed. This is a distraction for people."
Here's a recent video of Swallow on the whole scandal plaguing him:
Not sure if this Swallow scandal presents a situation for the Utah Democratic Party for outreach as Governor Herbert has already been vocal about the scandal from the get-go.
What do you think about this?