SALT LAKE CITY — In a stunning video announcing he will not seek reelection next year, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes also announced a criminal investigation into his friend, Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard.
In a video released late Friday afternoon on his social media platforms, Reyes touted his accomplishments in office declaring Utah is "safer and stronger than ever." But the Republican attorney general announced he would not seek a fourth term in 2024.
WATCH: Reyes accused of using office to silence critics
"I'm living proof of the American dream and serving the people of Utah has truly been a dream and honor for me," he said.
Reyes then addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his relationship with Tim Ballard. The Attorney General has been a longtime supporter of the founder of Operation Underground Railroad and his alleged efforts to rescue children caught in human trafficking.
Watch FULL video from AG Sean Reyes below:
However, multiple women have recently filed lawsuits against Ballard alleging sexual misconduct. Reyes himself was also named in a civil lawsuit which accused the attorney general of trying to intimidate a critic of Operation Underground Railroad.
In the video, Reyes disclosed that he had met with some of Ballard's accusers.
"I sat with these women and one man all with their attorneys present. After hearing their stories in person. I believe them and I'm heartbroken for what they’ve endured and the trauma they will face their entire lives," Reyes said. "I apologized to each of them that my past friendship with Tim Ballard and strong association with OUR contributed to an environment that made them feel powerless and without a voice to fight back for many years."
Reyes announced the Utah Attorney General's Office will now conduct a criminal investigation into Ballard, OUR and associated groups.
"I am now recused, meaning I will have no involvement," he said. "But my office will conduct a statewide investigation of Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, The Spear Fund or others to determine what criminal conduct occurred, if any, relating to the complaints made. The existence of a criminal investigation itself is not a determination of guilt."
Reyes' decision to not seek re-election was first reported by The Salt Lake Tribune (of which FOX 13 News has a news-content sharing relationship with). FOX 13 News was told that Reyes spent some of his day on Friday calling people on Utah's Capitol Hill to inform them of his decision not to seek reelection.
"We appreciate the many years of service Attorney General Reyes has given to our state and wish him well in his future endeavors," Governor Spencer Cox said in a statement to FOX 13 News.
"The Attorney General's Office is at the tip of the spear, defending and protecting our state and citizens' interests. From environmental issues to energy security to holding opioid companies accountable to pushing back against the harms of social media. We will work with the Attorney General and his office as he finishes his term to ensure a smooth transition," Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, told FOX 13 News in a text message.
Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, sought an investigation into Reyes in 2021 when he sponsored a resolution in the Utah State Legislature. It never got a hearing.
“Elected officials bear the responsibility of upholding the highest ethical standards and fostering an environment of accountability and integrity. AG Sean Reyes’ questionable actions during his tenure in public office do not reflect the oath of office. His choice to not seek re-election is a minimal acknowledgment of his wrongdoings," Rep. Stoddard said in a statement Friday night.
The Utah Democratic Party called for Reyes to resign immediately.
"While his decision not to run for reelection is good news for Utahns who deserve a competent, ethical, and accountable Attorney General, he should resign instead of spending the next year continuing to abuse his position of authority and failing to do the work of the people," Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis said in a statement.
Reyes is the third attorney general in a row to leave in scandal. He was appointed to the office in 2013 following the resignation of Utah Attorney General John Swallow, who alongside his predecessor, Mark Shurtleff, had been accused of miscoduct while in office. Shurtleff and Swallow faced criminal charges. Ultimately, Swallow was acquitted by a jury after a trial and the case was dropped against Shurtleff.
After taking office, Reyes was seen as a rising star in the Republican party and was a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. His name has consistently been floated as a candidate for governor and U.S. Senate. When Sen. Mitt Romney announced he would not seek reelection, Reyes' name emerged again. Instead, the attorney general announced he would run for another term as attorney general and threw his support behind Ballard.
Then the accusations began to emerge against Ballard over his time at OUR. Reyes, who was a longtime friend of Ballard's and a supporter of OUR, had been listed as a producer on a film about Ballard, "Sound of Freedom." A bipartisan group of Utah legislators requested an audit into the Utah Attorney General's Office and whether Reyes had abused his position due to his association with Ballard including travel and promotion of the nonprofit's activities.
Legislative leadership, made up of Republicans and Democrats, unanimously voted to order the audit.
