Does anyone even remember this? This was frontpage news just 3.5 months ago, when Richard Ellis accused Rep. Mark Walker of attempting to bribe him to drop out of the Treasurer's race. I should stipulate, I supported Walker, a good friend, over Ellis, someone I met during my stint with the Lt. Governor's Office.
Ellis, the Deputy Treasurer, filed a complaint wtih the office of Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert. When Herbert set aside the complaint to avoid unduly influencing the outcome of an election before the complaint could be fully investigated, Ellis was furious. He called Herbert's actions "outrageous", and told the Deseret News "He's frustrating the process from moving ahead."
So what did Ellis do? He filed a lawsuit to force the Lieutenant Governor to act. The legal representative for Ellis even called the Lt. Governor "stupid". The Supreme Court shot down Ellis, and said the Lt. Governor was within his rights to determine the time table of his response to the complaint. So the moment the polls closed on Richard Ellis and his resounding Primary Victory (aided in no small part by his accusation against Rep. Walker), the Lt. Governor forwarded the complaint to the Attorney General's office. Having endorsed Walker, AG Mark Shurtleff's office sent the complaint to the County Attorney's in Davis and Weber County, a Republican and Democrat, to investigate the allegations.
On July 19th, the prosecutors said they should be done "by August". It's now mid September. The media has let the story drop, aside form a mention of the scandal in a Cathy McKitrick story on Sunday in a Treasurer's Race profile story.
I have some thoughts:
- What is delaying the County Attorneys? Lt. Governor Herbert endured withering criticism for his decision to hold up the investigation to wait for the primary in order to provide due process to all involved. 2 months ago, they implied "we're almost done". Apparently, something is delaying this. Anyone who now claims the Lt. Governor stopped an investigation that could have been concluded before the Primary probably needs to have their head checked.
- What is up with Richard Ellis and his campaign finance disclosures? Reading a bit on blogs, rumor has it that the UEA bankrolled Ellis and his lawsuit. The dates associated with UEA contributions appear to match the dates of major significane in the complaint and lawsuit. Take a look here https://ucrs.state.ut.us/ Of course, I'm open to Richard Ellis's campaign contradicting this account. I'd be happy to have breakfast with you anytime, Richard. Just expect me to bring a witness to avoid any unfortunate lawsuits...
- I'm a Republican, but I will be voting for Democrat Dick Clark. I know both Richard and Mark Walker, and after watching this affair, I have no confidence in Richard Ellis. His timing was transparently political (waiting months to file the complaint)and his legal counsel was disrepectful to one of my personal heroes (Gary Herbert). Now I understand that disagreements happen: But filing suit against your own party's Lt. Governor? The possibility that the UEA funded your legal counsel? With Dick Clark, we get a fresh start at the top in the Treasurer's Office, and get to put this unfortunate event behind us.
I'm anxious to hear some results from this investigatoin. Let's get to the bottom of it and move on!
2 comments:
This is the best piece of journalism on this subject that I have seen.
Well done, Maxwell.
I want answers to all of your questions, as well....
Ellis should be very worried about the results of the investigation. It could get him kicked off the ballot.
Maxwell could you look over the expenditure form and tell me if Ellis paid for his toupee with campaign cash?
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