SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Department of Justice will not be indicting Utah Attorney General John Swallow and his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, who were the subject of a federal investigation triggered by allegations made by Utah businessmen that accused both of influence peddling.
The allegations originate from claims made by Utah businessmen Marc Jenson and Jeremy Johnson. Jenson’s allegations involved Shurleff, while Johnson’s rested largely on Swallow.
Jenson, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on multiple counts of communications fraud and money laundering, accused the current and former attorneys general of shaking him down for money and vacations at his luxury villa in Newport Beach, Calif. Swallow and Shurtleff both denied the allegations.
Johnson, who currently faces 85 counts of fraud, has accused Swallow of using his connections to help to orchestrate an alleged bribe of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in order to eliminate actions against Johnson by the Federal Trade Commission, among other allegations. Both Reid and Swallow have denied the allegations.
The claims made against Swallow and Shurtleff led to the Utah branch of the U.S. Attorney General’s Office and Department of Justice investigating the matter. On Thursday, as reported by KSL.com, both men were alerted by their lawyers that the investigation had closed and the feds would not be pursuing charges against them.
It has been reported by multiple news agencies that the Department of Justice would not comment on the case as a matter of policy.
Both men expressed relief to the media that the federal investigation had concluded and charges were not being pursued.
The focus on Swallow has not lifted however, as a Utah Special House Committee, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and a joint effort between the Salt Lake County and Davis County Attorneys continue to investigate him regarding various issues.
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- Governor calls Special Legislative Session to equip investigation of AG Swallow
- Special House Committee opens investigation on Attorney General John Swallow
- Take Action Utah Initiative calls for process for John Swallow
- On the EDge: Time for Swallow to go
- Leaked: Attorney General John Swallow: ‘Impeaching me would be illegal’
- Government heightens pressure on Jeremy Johnson
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