Mansell also wants advice on how to close loopholes that allowed the group to mask itself. The PAC, Truth In Politics, emerged shortly before the election and produced mailers and radio spots - one titled the "Map of Corruption" - slamming GOP candidates, four of whom lost to Democrats. The only listed contributor to the group was C.L. Peacock, who could not be found in voting records or area phone directories, and a previous number for him listed on PAC papers disconnected a caller after a few rings.

The PAC also was required to file another financial disclosure on Wednesday, though it planned to file it online close to the midnight deadline.

Mansell, a Republican from Sandy who was not the focus of the PAC's efforts, asked in a letter that, if Truth In Politics violated the law, the AG's Office "take immediate appropriate punitive action." He also asked for a detailed recommendation to ensure "this sort of thing does not happen again."

"I would like to avoid a repeat of this destructive, underhanded behavior - from either side of the political spectrum," Mansell wrote in a letter sent last week. Mansell said in an interview that he was not just focusing on the Truth In Politics PAC, but any groups that use such loopholes in the law.

"If people are going to set up a political action committee, it should be possible to know who's running them, who's incorporating them and who's funding them," Mansell said. "The public needs to know who's putting out the information."

Attorney General spokesman Paul Murphy said the office "will certainly look into it and we will take action if it's warranted."

Debbie Willhite, a self-described senior adviser to the PAC who is based in Washington, D.C., said there is no reason to investigate, but welcomed it.

"I'm not worried about it," she said. "We haven't come close to violating or even stretching the law."

The Salt Lake Tribune previously reported that the group has ties to the Utah Democratic Party, despite initial comments by state Chairman Donald Dunn that he didn't know who the group was.

Dunn later acknowledged that the party sold an address list to the PAC. He also has close ties to Willhite, who did work for the party during the time period she was working for the PAC.

Truth In Politics has now changed its statement of organization to list a Washington phone number for C.L. Peacock, though the number rings to Willhite.

tburr@sltrib.com