Hillyard: not up to Utah to decide if Swallow committed a crime

FILE: Deputy Attorney General John Swallow talks to supporters following his victory at the Utah State GOP election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

<strong>LOGAN -</strong> State Senator Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, admits a shadow is cast on new Utah Attorney General John Swallow right now. Swallow has been accused of accepting money for consulting work performed outside his office with St. George businessman Jeremy Johnson in what has been called “influence peddling.”

Hillyard said on KVNU’s Crosstalk program Wednesday that he is a friend of Swallow and would be surprised if he gets charged with a crime. Hillyard said this is not up to the state to decide but rather the federal government.

“Mr. Johnson is being prosecuted under federal law. The U.S. Attorney here, Mr. (David) Barlow, is appointed by President Obama,” Hillyard explained. “It’s a presidential appointment.

“So I suspect that the concerns that you hear some people say, ‘it’s a whitewash or will be a whitewash,’ I don’t think so. The U.S. Attorney’s office is independent of the state. They’ll look at it and make some decisions.

“If they charge Mr. Swallow with a crime we in the legislature will look back. If he is convicted and doesn’t resign, there very well may be an impeachment procedure.”

Hillyard said he and other legislators have been told not to judge him. Meanwhile, he said it is going to be very hard to budget this year because of what is happening in Congress with the fiscal cliff and other major federal budget concerns. Hillyard is chairman of the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee.

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