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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The legal affiliate of an organization considered a hate group by a civil rights organization provided assistance for Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstroms Arizona-style immigration bill.
The Immigration Reform Law Institute is the legal arm of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
FAIR was listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center three years ago because of writings, quotes and correspondence made by FAIRs founder and board member, John Tanton.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Sandstrom met with the law institute's general counsel, Michael Hethmon, at least twice. But the Orem Republican says he has never heard of Tanton and never heard anything racist from Hethmon.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
