Charges change against former Utah AG Shurtleff; pay-to-play, law firm counts are dropped
Former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff faces fewer criminal charges as a result of an amended filing by prosecutors on Monday.
Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings dropped three bribery counts that alleged a pay-to-play scheme, but added other charges, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Shurtleff’s lawyer, Richard Van Wagoner, applauded Rawlings’ decision to drop the bribery counts, according to the Salt Lake Tribune and Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
“It shows that Troy Rawlings, that he cared enough to review the evidence and conclude that there was no bribery, there was no quid pro quo for employment,” Shurtleff’s lawyer, Rick Van Wagoner, told Fox 13.
Also dropped were charges of witness tampering and a charge of accepting employment that would impair judgment. An obstruction of justice count was reduced to a misdemeanor.
The employment count concerned an allegation that Shurtleff interviewed for a job with a law firm representing Bank of America two months before he settled a suit against the bank, according to previous coverage by the Salt Lake Tribune. Shurtleff’s calendar showed he interviewed with Troutman Sanders, which listed Bank of America as a major client.
Shurtleff got the job with Troutman Sanders but denied any connection to the December 2012 settlement decision. He resigned from Troutman Sanders in June 2013, citing a difficult commute to work in Washington, D.C., and a busy speaking schedule.
Shurtleff now stands accused of five felonies and two misdemeanors, down from nine felonies. New charges against him include accepting prohibited gifts, obstruction of justice, official misconduct and bribery to dismiss a criminal proceeding
Van Wagoner continues to maintain that Shurtleff is innocent, the Salt Lake Tribune says. “He is not just not guilty,” Van Wagoner said. “He is innocent of any wrongdoing.”
