Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
All of the stories surrounding the allegations surrounding Utah Attorney General John Swallow.

Lt. Governor's Report Claims Swallow Violated Election Law

Brian Grimmett
Mark Thomas, Director of Elections, answers questions about investigative report on John Swallow

The special counsel to the state election’s office has found that there is sufficient evidence to show that Utah Attorney General John Swallow violated Utah election law.

The 42 page report outlines in detail several cases where Swallow failed to disclose income or his role as owner, officer, or formal advisor for a company on financial disclosure forms. The report calls these failures planned and deliberate. Normally, the Lieutenant Governor would take the report and refer it to a judge who would then rule on the charges and remove the offender from office if found guilty. But Mark Thomas, director of elections, says with Swallow’s resignation they’re not sure what will happen.

“The Lt. Governor will see if there is a need to move forward," he says. "Perhaps there’s not, but perhaps there is. Perhaps the statute requires us to move forward. So we’ll be taking the next few days to evaluate that and the Lt. Governor will make a decision when he’s ready.”

The report is also critical of Swallow’s lack of cooperation with the investigation. Investigators say he made several attempts to control or influence it through his attorneys. Mark Thomas says the investigation cost the state about $200 thousand dollars.

Report on the Investigation of Attorney General John Swallow by Brian Grimmett

KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.