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Posted: 9:09 PM- Lt. Governor Gary Herbert waited until the polls closed Tuesday to announce that he would forward state treasurer candidate Richard Ellis' complaint to the Attorney General's office for investigation.
"With respect to petitions like the one submitted by Mr. Ellis, my responsibility is to gather information and to recommend to the Attorney General whether a special investigation is warranted," Herbert wrote in a release posted on the Lt. Governor's state Web site.
"Upon completing my limited information gathering, I am convinced that a special investigation, as outlined in statute, is necessary to collect and examine all of the relevant details and afford the proper weight to their credibility and veracity."
Ellis, chief deputy state treasurer, beat him to the punch by filing his stalled complaint directly with the AG's office last Thursday. A spokesman for Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said he would appoint an independent prosector to conduct an investigation.
Ellis alleged that Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy - his challenger in a hotly contested GOP primary race - had offered him the chance to keep his job and also enjoy a significant bump in pay if he would drop out of the race.
The complaint, filed with Herbert on May 30, stalled because Herbert believed any determination could affect the upcoming vote.
Walker has continued to deny the allegation, labeling it dirty politicking.
Ellis, watching the election results come in Tuesday night from his West Jordan home, said he expected the investigation to proceed - with or without Herbert's action.
"I think it moves on," Ellis said. "We sent that letter up [to the attorney general] last week, and heard back that they were trying to select a county prosecutor to handle the investigation, We're hoping it will be placed in neutral hands. We'll see how it plays out."
The Walker campaign, headed to Salt Lake City's Alta Club Tuesday night to track election results, approved of Herbert's timing and handling of the explosive charge.
"We expected it and we're happy that they'll look into it," said Steve Hunter, Walker's campaign manager. "We really believe there are other elements to this that will not only prove that Mark Walker is innocent, but that Mr. Ellis has some involvement in this beyond what's been reported in the press."
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