Gov. Spencer Cox said alleged sexual misconduct by former Operation Underground Railroad CEO Tim Ballard 'appears to be criminal behavior,' while also noting Ba
At his monthly PBS Utah news conference Thursday, 2News directly asked Cox, who is a lawyer, if there should be a criminal investigation into Ballard.Church issues strong rebuke of former leader of Operation Underground Railroad Tim BallardA previous investigation by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings into Operation Underground Railroad — the anti-human trafficking organization Ballard founded and used to run, resulted in no charges.
Questions have also delved into Ballard's association with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. They were together on at least one Operation Underground Railroad exercise outside the country and the two may be close.Cox said he would still be comfortable with the attorney general's office conducting a criminal investigation into Ballard, saying the office has "the ability to wall off the attorney general.
"I would be comfortable just because I know those attorneys," said the governor, adding the AG's Office has dozens if not hundreds of lawyers. "I work with them all the time and they're incredible professionals." A spokesman for Reyes said a case against Ballard is outside the realm of the attorney general's office.
"Davis County was investigating Ballard for two years and recently closed its investigation," said spokesman Rich Piatt. "Unless someone comes forward with different information, that's where it stands. Either way, our office is conflicted out and can't touch it."
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