SWALLOW - The Salt Lake Tribune

Agents approach Shurtleff ally; investigations heat up

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:32:12 MDT

Agents approach Shurtleff ally; investigations heat up

By robert gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 11:32AM MDT

Federal and state agents handling the investigation into alleged misconduct within the Utah attorney general’s office have met with a close friend of former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. Meanwhile, on another investigative front, the state has begun the search for a special counsel to examine whether Shurtleff’s successor, John Swallow, violated Utah election laws. Tim Lawson, a self-described “fixer” who is seen as a central figure in issues surrounding Swallow and Shurtleff, said he was ap...

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No solution

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:09:57 MDT

No solution

Updated May 19, 2013 11:09PM MDT

“Non sequitur: when a train of thought proceeds from A to B and back again to Q.” — Bill Griffith’s comic strip, “Zippy the Pinhead” There are many words one could use to describe state Sen. Todd Weiler’s idea for addressing the scandal swirling around Attorney General John Swallow. Two such words are “counterintuitive” and “déjà vu.” Weiler’s proposal to make the state attorney general an appointed rather than an elected office closely resembles others cooked up on Capitol Hill that purpor...

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Swallow exit

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:32:41 MDT

Swallow exit

Updated May 18, 2013 10:32AM MDT

Re “Special counsel will investigate John Swallow’s financial arrangements” (Tribune, May 11): How many probes and investigations does it take for Utah Attorney General John Swallow to finally step down from office? Maybe the question is, how many days does he have left before his lifetime insurance and pension kicks in? Whatever it is, the people of this state deserves better people in office to represent them. Lloyd J. Cummings Draper

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Special prosecutor needed

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Special prosecutor needed

By ronald mortensen

Updated May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Based on reporting by the local newspapers, it is clear that the time has come to appoint a team of special prosecutors to investigate the conduct of former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, his hand-picked successor, John Swallow, and senior officials in the Attorney General’s Office. Shurtleff and Swallow have benefited from large campaign contributions ($30,000 to $165,000) from individuals or organizations facing serious legal difficulties. Both are accused of soliciting protection money...

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Swallow and the Legislature

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:01:03 MDT

Swallow and the Legislature

By jim dabakis

Updated May 17, 2013 01:01AM MDT

It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. But it is time for the Utah Legislature to do its duty and begin its own serious investigation into the mess currently unfolding in the executive offices of our state government. It is a critical part of our system of checks and balances, and after repeated scandals and allegations linking enormous contributions to special treatment from the executive branch, it’s time for the people of Utah to get the facts. To avoid the discomfort of looking into the matter, p...

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Salt Lake, Davis prosecutors also investigating Swallow

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:51:38 MDT

Salt Lake, Davis prosecutors also investigating Swallow

By Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 16, 2013 01:51PM MDT

Embattled Utah Attorney General John Swallow is facing another criminal probe, this one from two county attorneys who have been collaborating for months with federal investigators. Salt Lake County’s Sim Gill and Davis County’s Troy Rawlings are examining whether Swallow and his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, broke any state laws. Gill said Wednesday that his office received information from attorneys for convicted swindler Marc Sessions Jenson about alleged impropriety in the attorney general’s o...

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Judge slaps gag order on Jeremy Johnson, others in his criminal case

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:38:24 MDT

Judge slaps gag order on Jeremy Johnson, others in his criminal case

By tom harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 11:38PM MDT

Jeremy Johnson certainly has caused a stir this year: headline-grabbing allegations about Utah Attorney General John Swallow and a vigorous media campaign against federal regulators and prosecutors. Now he’s been told to zip it. A federal judge has signed a gag order to prevent the St. George businessman and others involved in his criminal case from making statements about it to the news media or on social media. U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Warner signed the order at the request of prosecutors, ...

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Jeremy Johnson tried to subpoena John Swallow, feds say

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:11:30 MDT

Jeremy Johnson tried to subpoena John Swallow, feds say

By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 10:11AM MDT

Jeremy Johnson is intimidating witnesses and trying to drag John Swallow into a civil lawsuit to which Utah’s embattled attorney general apparently has no connection, prosecutors pursuing criminal charges against the St. George businessman asserted Monday. In their latest court filing, federal prosecutors in Utah also denied Johnson’s allegation that the chief prosecutor in his criminal case was willing to strike a deal to protect Swallow from possible prosecution. The back-and-forth accusations...

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Favors for favor

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Favors for favor

Updated May 14, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Re “Shurtleff, Swallow lived it up on my dime, says convicted fraudster” (Tribune, May ): Regardless of the outcome of investigations into whether Utah Attorney General John Swallow and his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, did anything “illegal,” the associations, facilities and favors given to them directly or indirectly by Jeremy Johnson and Marc Jenson should give everyone concern about the current state of our elected officials and the process of choosing those who look after our rights. Norman...

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Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:42:38 MDT

Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 01:42PM MDT

Jason Brailow, cited by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection after 356 consumer complaints, contributed $22,600. The Tax Club kicked in nearly $100,000, all of it after being slapped by the state’s fraud police. Topping all donors, Jeremy Johnson’s I Works and various associates shelled out more than $217,000. Johnson’s company has been targeted by the state and now faces a federal lawsuit while Johnson himself is staring at 86 criminal charges. All these donors and dozens more with regulat...

Payday lenders and the Harry Reid connection

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:25:15 MDT

Payday lenders and the Harry Reid connection

By matt canham The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 09:25AM MDT

Washington • Fearing new regulations in the aftermath of the financial crisis, payday lenders decided to make a major play for the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. They contributed more than $126,000 to his campaign as the Nevada Democrat attempted to beat back a tea party challenge, hoping that the man who controls the Senate agenda would protect their interests. Their gambit didn’t stop the creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Reid supported. And yet, it m...

A.G. should resign

Sun, 12 May 2013 23:07:56 MDT

A.G. should resign

Updated May 12, 2013 11:07PM MDT

It was clear months ago that Utah Attorney General John Swallow should resign. Now, with allegations of misconduct piling up and House Speaker Becky Lockhart hinting that the Legislature might consider impeaching the state’s top law enforcement officer, there is no getting around it. Swallow cannot and should not try to continue representing Utah’s legal interests. The FBI is investigating Swallow, and the Utah lieutenant governor’s office will appoint a special counsel to investigate three al...

News roundup: Chinese flooding White House petition site

Fri, 10 May 2013 06:34:55 MDT

News roundup: Chinese flooding White House petition site

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 10, 2013 06:34AM MDT

Lawmakers contemplate impeaching Swallow. Chinese citizens petition the White House. Lee's border security amendment gets rejected. Happy Friday. Frustrated Chinese people have learned the White House accepts online petitions and they have decided to make a few requests, asking for everything from complete liberation from their leaders to endorsing a sweet tofu. So far the China-based petitions have received 170,000 votes in the past week. [WaPost] Topping the news: State House Speaker B...