3/14/13

Legislature rushes to fix conflict with Utah attorney generals power | The Salt Lake Tribune

LegislaturerushestofixconflictwithUtahattorney generalspower
PoliticsBillaimedatpreventingattorneygeneralfrominvestigatinghimself.
BYROBERTGEHRKE THESALTLAKETRIBUNE PUBLISHED:MARCH14,201305:30PM UPDATED:MARCH14,201305:33PM

LegislatorsmovedquicklyThursdaytopassabilltakingawayfromthestateattorneygeneralthepowertoinvestigateelectionlawcomplaintsagainsthimself. TheconflictwasdiscoveredafterthegroupAllianceForABetterUtahfiledacomplaintwiththelieutenantgovernorallegingadozencampaignlawviolationsbyAttorney GeneralJohnSwallowandseekinghispotentialremovalfromoffice. Understatelaw,thelieutenantgovernorwouldhavetoreviewthecomplaintand,ifneedbe,turnthecomplaintovertotheattorneygeneralsofficeforathorough investigation. Sen.PeterKnudson,RBrighamCity,saidSB289isnarrowlydrawntocorrecttheobviousinconsistency. TheSenatepassedthebillunanimously,movingittotheHouse,whichisexpectedtopassitbeforetheLegislatureadjournstonight. Sen.JimDabakis,DSaltLakeCity,whoischairmanoftheUtahDemocraticParty,soughttotaketheappointmentofthespecialcounselawayfromthelieutenantgovernor andgiveittotheChiefJusticeoftheUtahSupremeCourt. Ijustthinkthismakesitalotcleaner,Dabakissaid.Ithinkitsbestwejustmoveawayfromanycontroversy,getthispersonappointedandhavethispersongoabouttheir business. Buthiscolleaguesresisted.Sen.LyleHillyard,RLogan,argueditsbesttokeeptheSupremeCourtoutofpoliticalfights,andSen.SteveUrquhart,RSt.George,arguedthat,if thespecialcounseltakeshiscasetocourt,thejusticecouldbeforcedtoruleontheworkofhisappointee. TheAllianceForABetterUtah,aliberalleaningorganization,filedthecomplaintwiththelieutenantgovernorsofficelastweek,allegingadozenviolationsofcampaign disclosurelaws,includingfailurestoreporthismanagementpositionsorincomefromseveralbusinesses. IfitisfoundthatSwallowbrokestatecampaignlawhecouldberemovedfromoffice. OneofthecompaniesSwallowallegedlyconcealedhisinterestinwasPSolutions,whichreceived$23,500inpaymentsforconsultingworkSwallowsayshedidonaNevada cementprojectforRichardRawle,thelatefounderofthepaydaylenderCheckCity. ThemoneySwallowwaspaidcamefromfundsJeremyJohnson,thefounderofIWorks,paidtoRawle. SwallowsaidheputJohnsonintouchwithRawletohirelobbyiststohelpJohnsonavoidaFederalTradeCommissionlawsuit.JohnsonsaidheandRawlearrangedtopay SenateMajorityLeaderHarryReid,DNev.,$600,000,whichJohnsonhascalledabribe. ReidhasdeniedanyknowledgeofJohnsonscase.Johnsonandhisbusinesspartnershavesincebeenchargedwith86countsoffraud,moneylaunderingandconspiracy. gehrke@sltrib.com Twitter:@RobertGehrke

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