I have mixed emotions about today.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58185969-78/arrested-shurtleff-swallow-john.html.csp
I am sad that John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff are in the situation they find themselves in.
You don't wish this on anyone. Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses.
Under our laws, someone is innocent until proven guilty.
I am glad for Utah today for several reasons.
One, that the Utah Legislature, the Lt. Governor and the team of the Salt Lake and Davis County District Attorneys, FBI, and Utah State Department of Public Safety, all felt like there was enough concern raised in the accusations, investigated and did not to sweep this under the rug.
Two, I believed, and still do, that the Utah House needed to investigate Mr. Swallow. I was even in the Majority Caucus Room when the House Republican Caucus met to decide if there was enough support to do this. There were less than a dozen seats remaining in the room for the press and public, and I made sure I was there. Based on their report, and the charges filed today, I believe that was the correct decision then and I believe filing the charges was today.
Past posts on this subject:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/02/could-john-swallow-be-impeached_22.html
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/07/random-thoughts-on-last-3-letters-to.html
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/08/swallow-in-200-words.html
I am a member of the Utah Republican State Center Committee and voted to recommend 3 nominees for the office of A.G. for the Governor.
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/11/utahs-attorney-general-is-not-utahs-top.html
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-meet-and-greet-with-attorney.html
I have personally met with the current A.G., Sean Reyes, and believe he would prosecute someone violating state laws, no matter how high up they are in government, or having fame or fortune.We are in good hands there.
Showing posts with label John Swallow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Swallow. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Swallow in 200 words
I worked on a project for a year with John Swallow, Chief Deputy AG. I ignored the mud slinging during the primary. I knew both side's political consultants well enough to assume that they were behind it. I should have listened as I was blindsided Jan. 12th this year.
John's biggest critics since becoming AG on several issues are from Republicans. I was looking online for his conflict disclosure forms on Jan. 12th of this year. Not only his March 15th one, (I didn't find out about the March 9th until later) but also the one he had just signed Jan. 10th. I was more concerned with them and the lack of information re: P Solutions than the comments I heard on the tape from Johnson.
When two witnesses (one to get the money and one to pay it) and a tape accused Shurtleff of a $2M deal that involved Jenson, my focus moved to that. Jenson claimed Swallow knew about the $2M deal (Swallow says no). The $1M asset Swallow was to get looks bad.
Investigate. If he knew about the $2M, based on what Swallow hasn't done this year, (Shurtleff in Jail) Impeach. Malfeasance in Office.
John's biggest critics since becoming AG on several issues are from Republicans. I was looking online for his conflict disclosure forms on Jan. 12th of this year. Not only his March 15th one, (I didn't find out about the March 9th until later) but also the one he had just signed Jan. 10th. I was more concerned with them and the lack of information re: P Solutions than the comments I heard on the tape from Johnson.
When two witnesses (one to get the money and one to pay it) and a tape accused Shurtleff of a $2M deal that involved Jenson, my focus moved to that. Jenson claimed Swallow knew about the $2M deal (Swallow says no). The $1M asset Swallow was to get looks bad.
Investigate. If he knew about the $2M, based on what Swallow hasn't done this year, (Shurtleff in Jail) Impeach. Malfeasance in Office.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Could John Swallow be Impeached
What about the actions of John Swallow? I have ignored the statements of Mr. Johnson. I have not ignored the statements from John Swallow and the documents and recording already released. From the recording, I have focused on just John Swallows statements.
Do I believe that I believe that John Swallow was part of a plot to bribe Sen. Reid? No.
Do I have concerns? Yes. (The following is my opinion. I am not a judge or an attorney, nor currently serving in the legislature.)
What about the apparent intentional hiding of a potential required disclosure of a conflict of interest, P Solutions LLC, (3) times, which has ties to Richard Rawle, and whose only revenue initially came from the same account that Johnson paid Rawle from? OK, I could believe that John Swallow just missed on March 9, 2012, but how do you explain the March 15, 2012 and January 10, 2013 forms with them not showing up, even under his wife? How do you explain the money being refunded by P Solutions LLC and being repaid by a different account less than 1 year from the filings?
As I stated before, 76-8-109 (4) doesn't have a penalty, as it is a protection from violating other subsections. I don't know if it could be proved he intentionally lied on the form. I have personally filled out that form several times and could give him a pass for missing something on the March 9, 2012 version, but I have not heard a defense on the other two versions.
Since that appears in this case not to have worked, (the incentive to fill out on the form all items required by 76-8-109 (4) ) IF I were still in the Utah Legislature, I would have pulled a bill file already to add the same coordinating clauses and penalty as the other required financial disclosure forms, and I would have requested the House Judiciary Standing Committee to put John Swallow on the witness stand, and depending on his answers to questions on the committee, decide if this, or the House Boat, 67-16-5 . or the reported Pay to Play Campaign Fundraising for Mark Shurtleff , 76-8-105 , reach to the point of impeachment. IF warranted, I would have a committee report read to the House recommending the Speaker poll the members to see if they have the required 2/3 to impeach. If not, John would be clear of the threat of impeachment.
I have not asked for John to step down, as I don't know all the answers to the above items.
I have seen the March 9, 2012 , March 15, 2012 , and January 10, 2013 forms and have discussed the state law section I have quoted with individuals that know more about it than I do. I thought someone, a member of the legislature, was going to run the bill, but I haven't see it yet, which means it would be more apt to be done during interim.
Depending on how the above possible scenario plays out, and the results of the answers provided John could be impeached before the end of the year or that threat would be extinguished. I have no clue what the senate would decide with those charges if they decided them to be valid.
Do I believe that I believe that John Swallow was part of a plot to bribe Sen. Reid? No.
Do I have concerns? Yes. (The following is my opinion. I am not a judge or an attorney, nor currently serving in the legislature.)
What about the apparent intentional hiding of a potential required disclosure of a conflict of interest, P Solutions LLC, (3) times, which has ties to Richard Rawle, and whose only revenue initially came from the same account that Johnson paid Rawle from? OK, I could believe that John Swallow just missed on March 9, 2012, but how do you explain the March 15, 2012 and January 10, 2013 forms with them not showing up, even under his wife? How do you explain the money being refunded by P Solutions LLC and being repaid by a different account less than 1 year from the filings?
As I stated before, 76-8-109 (4) doesn't have a penalty, as it is a protection from violating other subsections. I don't know if it could be proved he intentionally lied on the form. I have personally filled out that form several times and could give him a pass for missing something on the March 9, 2012 version, but I have not heard a defense on the other two versions.
Since that appears in this case not to have worked, (the incentive to fill out on the form all items required by 76-8-109 (4) ) IF I were still in the Utah Legislature, I would have pulled a bill file already to add the same coordinating clauses and penalty as the other required financial disclosure forms, and I would have requested the House Judiciary Standing Committee to put John Swallow on the witness stand, and depending on his answers to questions on the committee, decide if this, or the House Boat, 67-16-5 . or the reported Pay to Play Campaign Fundraising for Mark Shurtleff , 76-8-105 , reach to the point of impeachment. IF warranted, I would have a committee report read to the House recommending the Speaker poll the members to see if they have the required 2/3 to impeach. If not, John would be clear of the threat of impeachment.
I have not asked for John to step down, as I don't know all the answers to the above items.
I have seen the March 9, 2012 , March 15, 2012 , and January 10, 2013 forms and have discussed the state law section I have quoted with individuals that know more about it than I do. I thought someone, a member of the legislature, was going to run the bill, but I haven't see it yet, which means it would be more apt to be done during interim.
Depending on how the above possible scenario plays out, and the results of the answers provided John could be impeached before the end of the year or that threat would be extinguished. I have no clue what the senate would decide with those charges if they decided them to be valid.
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