Jury enters deliberations in Swallow trial

March 1, 2017 Utah Channel 3

SALT LAKE CITY — The jury in the corruption trial of former Utah Attorney General John Swallow has begun deliberating his fate.

In closing statements Wednesday, prosecutors portrayed Swallow as the “heir apparent” to the attorney general’s office. They said former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff called the shots, with Swallow aggressively fundraising for Shurtleff’s senate bid so he could fill the void once Shurtleff left office.

“Swallow depended on his power from Shurtleff,” deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Fred Burmester told the jury. “He was the AG in waiting.”

But Swallow’s defense attacked the case as a “house of cards,” and a prosecution “by proxy.” They noted that even many state witnesses didn’t talk much about Swallow, focusing on alleged misdeeds by Shurtleff.

“Charges were not proven. John Swallow is not guilty,” Williams told the jury.

At the end of his closing statements, Williams asked Swallow to stand as he told the jury: “The only humane verdict is not guilty on all counts.”

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Written by BEN WINSLOW, Fox13Now.com