Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a lengthy statement Wednesday in response to a lawsuit against Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard.
Reyes wasn't named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges Ballard sexually assaulted several women and made fraudulent statements to coerce them into sexual contact, but the complaint alleges Reyes' friendship with Ballard gave "credibility to Ballard and OUR that was not warranted."
Reyes said he was unaware of the allegations that Ballard used the so-called "couples ruse" to groom and sexually assault women posing as his "wife" on undercover rescue missions.
"The AG has no knowledge of how or if his name or title may have been used to add credibility to the misconduct alleged in the complaint," the statement says. "If the allegations are true, and had he known of such alleged behavior, he would not have allowed use of his name and would have strongly condemned such actions."
Reyes has been a longtime ally of Ballard and of Operation Underground Railroad. He accompanied Ballard on a rescue operation in Colombia in 2014 and has promoted the film "Sound of Freedom," which is based on Ballard's career as a special agent for the Department of Homeland Security.
The lawsuit alleges Reyes' participation in the operation, which was "well publicized in Utah," gave Ballard "the cover of the top law enforcement officer in the state of Utah to carry out his purposes, including the couples ruse, even while consumer complaints and criminal investigations were pouring into his office regarding the improprieties of OUR and Ballard."
The attorney general "strongly disputes" this point, his statement says, adding that "none of the senior leadership in (his office) could recall a single request for investigation, consumer complaint, or any substantive complaint at all" before allegations were reported on last month.
He notes Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings was involved in an investigation into Operation Underground Railroad, which was closed earlier this year without any charges being filed. Reyes said a conflict of interest screen was established to separate himself from the investigation due to his connection to Ballard.
"Further, any insinuation or allegation that the Utah AG or (his office) 'killed,' 'quashed,' or 'shut down' the Davis County Attorney's investigation is equally without basis in fact," Reyes said, adding that his office "would not interfere with a sister agency's investigation."
Reyes distanced himself from Ballard late last month after similar allegations were reported, saying he was "deeply saddened" and wouldn't support anyone in the upcoming campaign for Mitt Romney's Senate seat. Ballard has said he's considering running and it was widely expected that Reyes would support him.
After Romney announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, Reyes posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he would not run but said: "That opens up an opportunity for a dear friend of mine who is a great conservative, patriot and warrior to run and serve as the next senator from Utah."
"This person will be making an announcement in the days to come and I will be standing alongside this servant leader on a journey to the United States Senate," he continued, in what is believed to be a reference to Ballard.
In the days leading up to and following the "Sound of Freedom" release in July, Reyes posted several pictures on Instagram of himself alongside Ballard. He was a guest on Ballard's podcast in July and described being impressed with Operation Underground Railroad when he first met Ballard years ago.
"And then I was sold, and I'm like, 'Man, anything I can do, obviously, in the state of Utah, in the U.S., but if you go overseas, take me with you,'" Reyes recounted telling Ballard.
A quote from Ballard is included on Reyes' campaign website focused on the attorney general's efforts to fight violent crime, and Ballard is listed among prominent Utah leaders who endorsed his candidacy.
"Sean spends 95 percent of his time working in Utah to fight all types of crime including human trafficking," the quote from Ballard reads. "He goes after some of the most dangerous and heinous predators to protect Utah children, families and businesses. Make no mistake, Sean has made Utah a model for the world when it comes to combating this evil."
In his statement, Reyes said anyone who believes they were harmed by Operation Underground Railroad and/or Ballard can file a complaint with the Department of Commerce's Division of Consumer Protection.
"The DCP is represented by a group of assistant attorneys general who have been screened off from the AG and key members of his staff who may have some connection with the defendants," the statement says. "Accordingly, the AG will not be involved in the investigation or resolution of those cases, just as he has not been involved in the UAGO's interaction with the Davis County inquiries, since 2020, to avoid even the appearance of improper influence or favoritism."
"The Utah Attorney General's Office is fully committed to fight crime, protect the public, act with integrity, and see that justice is done," the statement concludes. "It is important that recent allegations not detract from the urgency to fight the very real crime of human trafficking in our state and in the world."
Ballard has previously denied all accusations brought by seven individuals in a pair of lawsuits this week.
