SALT LAKE CITY – A number of Republican representatives are beginning to question whether the state House should continue investigating Utah Attorney General John Swallow.
Federal prosecutors recently decided not to prosecute Swallow, which some said is a good indication an investigation may not be necessary.
The federal investigation is thought to have focused on allegations Swallow took money to improperly influence a federal investigation.
The state House of Representatives told their investigative committee to find the facts on a number of allegations involving campaign finance, moonlighting in office, and accepting gifts from people likely to be targeted with prosecution.
Rep. Ken Ivory, R-District 47, said the House should put a hold on their investigation.
“We're in a situation where if there had never been a federal investigation, we probably wouldn't have gone down this road," he said. "And so the federal investigation is concluded. We're spending $3 million, and we still don't know what the end game is."
Rep. Joel Briscoe, D- District 25, said he supports continuing the House investigation.
“There are many reasons, many reasons why a federal prosecutor might elect not to proceed," he said. "Those reasons may have nothing to do with the laws and values that Utahns hold dear.”
FOX 13 News reached out to the chair of the investigative committee--Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R- District 39, for comment, but he was out of town. In an email, FOX 13 News asked if he was committed to continuing the investigation, and his full response was, “Yes.”
