SALT LAKE CITY — House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart has named the nine House lawmakers who will serve on the special committee investigating allegations surrounding Attorney General John Swallow.
The Utah House created the panel earlier this month in what could be the first step in a possible impeachment of the state's top law enforcement officer.
Swallow, a Republican, has been dogged by misconduct allegations, including being accused of plotting to bribe the U.S. Senate majority leader, and he is the subject of federal and state investigations.
Swallow has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but the state House of Representatives has tasked a special committee with looking into the allegations.
Lockhart announced late Wednesday afternoon that Republican Rep. Lowry Snow, an attorney from St. George and former president of the Utah State Bar, will chair the committee.
House Majority Leader Brad Dee, a Republican, and House Minority Leader Jennifer Seelig, a Democrat, will both be on the committee, which will consist of five Republicans and four Democrats.
Reps. James Dunnigan of Taylorsville, Lee Perry of Perry and Mike McKell of Spanish Fork make up the other Republicans on the committee.
Reps. Rebecca Chavez-Houck of Salt Lake City, Lynn Hemingway of Salt Lake City and Susan Duckworth of Magna round out the Democratic members.
Though Republicans hold a supermajority in the Legislature, Democrats had pushed for equal representation on the committee, not wanting to leave it mostly up to Republicans to investigate a member of their own party.
Seelig, the leading Democrat in the House, said Wednesday afternoon she was pleased with committee makeup.
"I think the 5-4 split is fair. I think that it helps balance out the variable of political party and helps us get through that perception to the real issues at hand," she said.
Lawmakers on Wednesday had convened in a special session to adjust the powers of the committee.
The House and Senate approved changes to exempt the committee from some open records and public meeting laws and addressed technical issues regarding the committee's powers of subpoena and ability to offer immunity.
The changes allow the committee to vote to close meetings in order to obtain legal advice or to hold discussions or question witnesses when conducting those activities openly would interfere with "the effectiveness" of their investigation or a criminal investigation.
The changes approved Wednesday also exempt from public records the records of witness interviews, the strategy of the investigation or anything else they determine might interfere with the probe if made public.
Rep. David Lifferth, R-Eagle Mountain, said he was concerned about allowing the meetings to be closed.
"I think if we are going to do the people's business, it needs to be in the full light of day," Lifferth said during floor debate.
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, R. St. George, listens during a special session in the House of Representatives at the Utah State Capitol Wednesday July 17, 2013 in Salt Lake City. House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart has named the nine House lawmakers who will serve on the special committee investigating allegations surrounding Attorney General John Swallow. Republican Rep. Lowry Snow, an attorney from St. George and former president of the Utah State Bar will chair the committee. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Chris Detrick) DESERET NEWS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; MAGS OUT
Dee, who sponsored the legislation making the changes, said he and other legislative leaders discussed the changes with some media representatives while drafting the bill.
Douglas Foxley, an attorney who represents the Utah Media Coalition and Utah Press Association, said the groups he represents support the changes.
"We believe that we have come up with a very delicate balance of what should and should not be private," Foxley told lawmakers during a committee hearing earlier Wednesday. "We are supportive of the legislation moving forward."
Both Dee and Lockhart said several times Wednesday that they intend keep as much of the process open to the public as possible.
Lawmakers on Wednesday also approved legislation ensuring that if needed, they can hire special counsel or private investigators from outside Utah to avoid a conflict of interest.
All of the legislation approved by the House and Senate on Wednesday must now be approved by Gov. Gary Herbert.
No timeline has been announced yet for when the committee will start meeting.
The committee will deliver a factual report to the House but will not make a recommendation on what action should be taken against Swallow. A House vote for impeachment would lead to a trial in the Senate.
The controversy surrounding Swallow emerged shortly after he took office in January.
Utah businessman Jeremy Johnson, who's facing federal fraud charges related to his Internet businesses, accused the new attorney general of arranging a plan to bribe Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, a Democrat, in order to suppress a federal probe of Johnson's businesses.
The FBI is investigating those allegations, which Swallow and Reid both deny.
Another businessman who was convicted of fraud charges has accused Swallow and former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff of offering or suggesting protection from regulators in exchange for cash and spa vacations. Both have denied wrongdoing.
Swallow served as Shurtleff's fundraiser. He also was chief deputy in the attorney general's office before he succeeded Shurtleff.
Legislators have directed their investigative committee to include allegations from as far back as 2009, when Swallow joined Shurtleff's office.
Swallow also is the subject of two complaints with the Utah State Bar. And the Lt. Governor's Office, which oversees elections, is bringing on outside attorneys to investigate campaign disclosure complaints against Swallow.
As new allegations or investigations have emerged, Swallow has continued to deny any misdoings or violations. Two fellow Republicans have publicly called on him to resign, something he says he will not do.
Swallow maintains he has nothing to hide and says all investigations will clear his name.
Follow Michelle Price at http://www.twitter.com/michellelprice
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