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The Salt Lake County Republican Party issued a news release Tuesday night calling for an official investigation into a privately owned armored SWAT vehicle on loan to the Unified Police Department being used at a 2013 fundraiser for Democratic Sheriff Jim Winder.
But it hadn't taken any action Wednesday to formally complain.
U.S. Office of Special Counsel">Dale Ash said Wednesday afternoon he is conferring with an attorney about filing a complaint after having discussed the matter with a representative of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which enforces the Hatch Act.
"We're fairly comfortable there needs to be an independent investigation," Ash said, a day after issuing a news release raising questions about whether Winder violated the act at an Oct. 17, 2013, fundraiser in Grantsville.
Republicans also have been critical of Winder for not including the Grantsville fundraiser in his 2013 financial disclosure form until two weeks ago.
Winder and his campaign manager, Jackie Biskupski, deny wrongdoing on both fronts, calling the Republican allegations "pure politics." She said the belated campaign disclosure was an accident.
The event at the Big Shot Ranch, a "corporate firearms country club," involved a BearCat armored vehicle that ranch owner Michael Drury bought several years ago and loaned to the UPD.
Ash said he believes Winder, who is head of the UPD as well as being sheriff, may have violated the Hatch Act in two ways. He said Winder used a resource of the UPD, a recipient of federal funding, to support his campaign and also had the UPD officers who manage the BearCat working at a political event.
"This isn't something anyone is overjoyed about doing. But you can't sweep things under the rug," Ash said. "If this does not apply to him, we need to know that."
Winder responded that the "allegations are absolutely baseless," particularly since the BearCat is privately owned.
Beyond that, he added, "I welcome any inquiry from any entity. I just wish that, instead of making accusations and then debating about whether they have foundation, [the Republicans] should be sure of the facts before they publicize things the way they have."
Added Biskupski: "They don't understand how the Hatch Act works. We're not worried. There is nothing to this."
Winder's Republican opponent, UPD Lieutenant Jake Petersen, said a review by the Office of Special Counsel would take the issue out of the political realm. "It needs to be looked at impartially."
Drury, who did not return a call to The Salt Lake Tribune seeking comment, informed the UPD on Monday that he was rescinding the loan and took his BearCat back.
"I'm heartbroken the sheriff's shenanigans cost us that," Petersen charged. "He has made the community less safe."
Nonsense, Winder responded, maintaining the hubbub raised by the Republicans cost Salt Lake County residents "a piece of equipment we worked long and hard to obtain."
Despite the loss of Drury's armored vehicle, Salt Lake County residents are not in danger, Winder added.
After finding out that Dury pulled back his gift, Winder said he made arrangements to borrow Davis County's BearCat if it is needed.
Requests for Hatch Act rulings are not new to Salt Lake County government races.
Two years ago, and four years before that, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel rejected Democratic Party challenges to the County Council candidacy of now-Chairman Michael Jensen.
The Democrats argued Jensen could not serve on the council because he is chief of the Unified Fire Authority, which receives federal funding. But both times, the Office of Special Counsel rejected the complaints.
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