Utah has had a very troubling recent history with its attorneys general. In the past 24 years we have had a steady decline in ethical leadership in that office. Mark Shurtleff was just plain bad, John Swallow even worse, and Sean Reyes is easily the most incompetent and corrupt of the group.
This year’s group of Republican A.G. candidates was supposed to change all of that. (Let’s face it, even an honest Democrat has no prayer of attaining statewide elected office in Utah.)
So along comes Frank Mylar, a Republican candidate for A.G., who by all accounts has performed well at the county conventions and with the delegates. However, in the days before the Utah state Republican convention, he sent a text message to Trent Christensen, a Republican candidate for the same office, which reads: “Hey Trent. In my last day of trial and by God’s grace my campaign has picked up more steam. I won Weber and was there only 10 minutes. Overwhelmingly won Davis. If you could endorse me before the convention I would definitely include you in my office. Think about it for a few days. Thx. Good luck today.” (Emphasis added.)
The problem Mr. Mylar, is that Utah Law reads as follows:
Utah Code Section 20A-1-601, Bribery in elections — Paying for votes — Penalties.
(1) A person may not, directly, indirectly. or through any other person;
(b) give, offer, or promise any office, place, or employment, . . . . in order to;
(iii) obtain the political support or aid of any person;
(2) . . . . a person who commits an offense under Subsection (1) is guilty of a third degree felony.
(Emphasis added.)
Six hours after sending this bribe, Mylar texted back that he didn’t mean to send the text and said it was not an offer. (Kind of like the shoplifter who gets caught outside the store and offers to go back in and pay for the stolen items, as though that negates the crime).
The case is currently being investigated by the Murray City Police Department, which will present their findings to the Salt Lake County D.A., although it isn’t exactly rocket science to understand the law.
At a time in our state when we can hardly afford to have another morally compromised person in the A.G.’s office, can we risk 4 or more years of Frank Mylar? He could always take the high road and withdraw from the race, but the high road doesn’t pass through the A.G.’s office anymore.
Greg Skordas, Salt Lake City