Pro-impeachment demonstrators: 'Corruption has no place in government'


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SALT LAKE CITY — The debate over whether or not to impeach embattled Utah Attorney General John Swallow spilled over into the Capitol rotunda Wednesday, with demonstrators trying to give lawmakers a nudge.

"The one thing we all agree on is that corruption has no place in Utah's government," said demonstration organizer Isaac Holyoak with Alliance for a Better UTAH.

He was flanked by representatives from several groups, including the League of Women Voters of Utah, the Utah Democratic Lawyers Council and the Young Democrats of Utah, as well as former GOP state legislator Holly Richardson.

"It is unfortunate to me that it has been painted as an attack on a good person when we have decades of evidence that this has been a pattern for John Swallow," Richardson said. "It is the constitutional duty of the Utah House of Representatives to act in a manner to protect the public trust. I also think there's no question that trust has been broken."

The Utah Constitution provides as impeachment criteria high crimes, misdemeanors and malfeasance.


It is unfortunate to me that it has been painted as an attack on a good person when we have decades of evidence that this has been a pattern for John Swallow.

–Holly Richardson, former GOP state legislator


Holyoak argued the criteria of malfeasance has been reached because of the breach of public trust.

"There's the criminal investigation, which is a legal track or a judicial track, but then there's also the political process — and that's what impeachment does," Holyoak said. "If you lose the public trust, that is an act of malfeasance. It rises to the level of malfeasance. Remember, malfeasance is not a legal category or a criminal category. It's about ethics."

Lay voters turned out to chant, "Restore the public trust," and hold up various signs.

"Resign, Swallow. We don't trust you," exclaimed Nancy Ballard, who said she had become disgusted with the case while following the headlines. "If the Legislature does nothing other than just to allow this to go on, what does this say about their role?"

Naomi Franklin held up her sign and simply stated, "Swallow sticks in the craw!"

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Though protestors did not show in large numbers, organizers said they believed they were speaking for a majority of Utahns, referencing recent polling.

A survey from the BYU Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy found 78 percent of those polled want Swallow to resign, while 72 percent believed the Utah House of Representatives should begin formal impeachment proceedings against Swallow. Swallow had just 12 percent support in the poll.

Still, at least one demonstrator spoke out against the others, contending more time is needed before calling for Swallow to be impeached.

"I think we need to play it out and see if he's guilty or not," Brian Kelly said. "I think you're innocent until proven guilty. I would ask if Swallow is guilty to get out now, but I think he would by now if he did something wrong."

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