This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The recent promotion in Europe of Utahn David Schwendiman as the top independent prosecutor investigating war crimes from the Bosnian-Serb ethnic war in the 1990s renews questions about his snub by the Obama administration six years ago.

Schwendiman recently was appointed chief prosecutor of the newly created Kosovo Specialist prosecutor's office under the authority of the European Union.

The newly created position gives him complete autonomy to pursue investigations and prosecutions of atrocities committed in the war.

It is the crown jewel of an already-stellar career as a state, federal and military prosecutor, as well as helping to steer security for the Sydney, Athens and Salt Lake City Olympics.

In 2010, Schwendiman was shockingly passed over for appointment as U.S. attorney for Utah after widespread speculation he would get the job, replacing former boss Brett Tolman.

The buzz about Schwendiman's elevation to the top federal prosecutor's job in Utah began in fall 2009 after Tolman's announcement that he was retiring. Schwendiman already had left his post as assistant U.S. attorney to take over prosecutions of war crimes and crimes against humanity for the E.U.

He was expected to get the job, with bipartisan backing from Rep. Jim Matheson, the lone Democrat in the Utah congressional delegation, and Sen. Orrin Hatch, the state's most influential Republican in D.C.

Schwendiman was described by many supporters as the most-qualified candidate ever considered for the U.S. attorney's slot in Utah.

He had been a leading prosecutor in the Utah attorney general's office before moving to the U.S. attorney's office. He was acting U.S. attorney for Utah when Scott Matheson Jr. left the job.

Then, in mid-2010, after months of speculation, Schwendiman said he was no longer under consideration for the post.

The White House had no comment, but rumors persisted, blaming both sides of the political aisle for what many considered a lost opportunity to land the best candidate for the job.

Some speculated that Jim Matheson's conservative votes, frequently going against President Barack Obama's stances, so angered the administration that Matheson's nomination would be ignored.

Others wondered whether Hatch was not as supportive of Schwendiman privately as he seemed to be publicly and, in the end, desired someone with closer GOP ties.

The eventual choice was David Barlow, who had worked with then-newly elected Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Perhaps the answer lies in a line Schwendiman wrote when alerting colleagues of his new appointment.

"I have experience leading a prosecutor's office doing this kind of work," he said. "And, most importantly, I have a reputation for acting independently."

Given the politics that have shadowed U.S. attorney offices under Democratic and Republican administrations, Schwendiman's reputation for being fiercely independent may have been his Achilles' heel. prolly@sltrib.com