John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXIX: The Plot Sickens

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." - Shakespeare

For your Friday morning viewing pleasure, we've helpfully googled up the latest developments in the John Swallow Three-ring circus:

A Utah citizens' group, Alliance for a Better Utah, asserting "that the failure to properly vet" former House investigative committee member and chairman Rep. Lowry Snow "exposed the committee to unnecessary scandal, has released an open letter to House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart, asking for more details about how members of a House investigative committee were vetted before being chosen to gather information on embattled Attorney General John Swallow":

• Group wants to know how House Speaker Lockhart chose committee investigating Attorney General Swallow - Dnews
• Group wants details on Swallow committee - Standard

"Some committee members, including Snow, said Lockhart only spoke to them briefly and didn't ask about potential conflicts of interest before appointing them," the Deseret News reports.

"State taxpayers are footing the legal bill for Utah Attorney General John Swallow in his defense of an ethics complaint before the Utah State Bar. Swallow is being defended by lawyers from his office from allegations that he violated rules of conduct that govern attorney-client relations concerning a phone call he had last year with a Utah businessman facing a $400,000 fine for violating state consumer protection laws, the office confirmed Thursday":

• Utah taxpayers foot bill for part of A.G. Swallow’s defense - SLTrib

"David Irvine, a Salt Lake City attorney associated with Utahns for Ethical Government and the Alliance for a Better Utah, said while he couldn’t cite legal authorities, having state attorneys represent Swallow in the Bar case didn’t seem appropriate since it involves alleged ethical violations," the Salt Lake Tribune reports; and if that's what Mr. Irvine believes, that's good enough for us.

There are some interesting tidbits to be found in the list of law firms bidding to be part of the Swallow investigation:

• Interesting Tidbits from the Law Firms Vying to Be Part of the Swallow Investigation - UTPolicy

"Another man has come forward to accuse Attorney John Swallow. Like the previous accusers [Marc  Jenson and Jeremy Johnson] , Brian Arthur Fitts is accused of felony fraud. The charges were published on Utah Political Capitol in a story by veteran freelance reporter Lynn Packer. In the story, Fitts says Swallow brought false criminal charges against him because Fitts sued a client and friend of the Attorney General’s. He claims Swallow used his office to retaliate. Fitts is currently a fugitive in Canada from multiple fraud charges":

• Third Accuser Comes Forward With Allegations Against AG John Swallow - UPC
• New Swallow Accuser Steps Forward (Video) - KUTV2

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." - Shakespeare