Former Utah officials charged with bribery

 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Two former Utah attorneys general were arrested on an array of bribery charges Tuesday stemming from cozy relationships with several businessmen, a stunning fall for a pair of politicians who built immense political clout in their years at the highest level of state law enforcement.

John Swallow, 51, and Mark Shurtleff, 56, were arrested at their homes Tuesday morning, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said at a news conference at the FBI office in Salt Lake City in which he detailed payoffs involving gold coins, swanky resorts and other luxury gifts.

“This is a sad day for Utah,” Republican Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement. “The entire situation, regardless of how the legal process plays out, is a black eye for our state.”

Court records show John Swallow faces 13 charges, including felony bribery charges, while Shurtleff faces 10 counts that include bribery. The most serious charges for each man come with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison.

Gill said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges will likely be filed against both men and others.

It’s unclear if federal charges are being considered, though the FBI said it will continue to investigate a number of leads.

When Swallow walked out of jail Tuesday afternoon, he said he’d known for a few weeks that this was likely to happen.

“I absolutely maintain my innocence,” he said. “This finally gives us the opportunity to start to respond back.”

Swallow, a Republican, said he looks forward to making his case in court “to confront my accusers and to share my side of the story for really the first time.”

Shurtleff, also a Republican, said the charges leveled against him are completely false and motivated by a politically charged investigation.