Ethics probe could take an ugly turn
As part of the initial ethics investigation, concerning alleged promises made by state Rep. Mark Walker in the state treasurer's race, those bringing the complaint want a "special prosecutor" appointed, something that has not been done in recent legislative history.
Formal ethics investigations are rare in the Legislature. It takes at least three members of the House to ask for a House investigation, three senators to ask for a Senate ethics investigation. As it currently stands, only the House is forming an ethics hearing now.
The politics may get bitter, as moderate Republican legislators and Democrats face off against conservative GOP lawmakers — who have held the balance of power in the Legislature for years.
"I think" those bringing the new ethics investigation "are just using me as a whipping boy to get to (GOP) leaders," said Walker, R-Sandy, who lost the GOP treasurer's primary Tuesday.
The new investigation "is just a vindictive political cheap shot ... to harm the elections of others" in the House this year, Walker added.
Ellis claims that in March Walker came to him, promising not only to keep Ellis as chief deputy treasurer (and keep all of the treasurer's staff, as well) should Walker win but in addition offered to raise the chief deputy's pay by $56,000 a year.
Walker denies any wrongdoing, saying he never offered a pay raise and only offered to keep all treasurer employees on staff so as to not unduly worry "good employees." Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's office is now referring the allegations to two county attorneys, one a Republican and one a Democrat, for possible criminal prosecution.
The House's ethics investigation is a separate investigation from that one. A number of House and Senate GOP leaders backed Walker, and several said Thursday it is no coincidence that an ethics investigation is filed the day after Ellis beat Walker in the primary.
Ellis waited until after the May state GOP convention — where Walker did well and forced Ellis into a primary — to report the incident and make formal charges, following newspaper inquiries about the alleged offer.
Three House Democrats, Reps. Roz McGee, Neil Hansen and Phil Riesen, and two House Republicans, Reps. Sheryl Allen and Steve Mascaro, formally asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate Walker.
But the real political fur will fly over the five's insistence that the committee appoint a "special prosecutor" and look at whether any House Republican(s) "colluded" with Walker to raise Ellis' pay.
Recent comments
I'm actually disgusted with all of you who blast good solid conservatives…
Disgusted | June 30, 2008 at 11:05 p.m.
Sheryl Allen and Steve Mascaro give me hope for the republicans.…
hope... | June 28, 2008 at 11:16 a.m.
Mr. Mascaro, you are one of the few bright spots in Utah Republican…
Mascaro | June 27, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
