Ex-attorneys general say they were naive, but innocent
SALT LAKE CITY — Two former Utah attorneys general who avoided convictions in a bribery case that was one of the highest-profile scandals in state history said Friday they were naive and made missteps but that the justice system got it right in not convicting them.
The Utah Democratic party chair, meanwhile, said he worries that other Republican leaders in the mostly-GOP state will now believe they are above the law after seeing how John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff avoided prison time.
A jury found Swallow not guilty Thursday night of nine counts that included bribery, obstruction of justice and evidence tampering. Shurtleff’s case was dismissed last summer.
Prosecutors accused Swallow and Shurtleff of hanging a virtual “for sale” sign on the door to the state’s top law enforcement office by taking campaign donations and gifts like beach vacations in exchange for favourable treatment.