Mark Shurtleff Made Mistake as He Walked Out the Door

It does seem this a case of conflict of interest, elected official using his office to help someone who lines his or her pocket.

And, it does seem we, as the public, should demand that it not happen. What was done was not illegal, but if this was not a case of being sold out, the appearance of being such is so great we should not just glance at our feet or turn our eyes the other way.

Mark Shurtleff, out-going attorney general. Bless him, but not for what he did as he walked out of office, not for one of his final acts.

Shurtleff's next job will be with Troutman Sanders LLP, an international law firm with Bank of America as a client.

Bank of America. The Utah Attorney General's Office was pursuing a foreclosure lawsuit against the bank. The judge already had issued a strong ruling against the bank and a final ruling was yet to come. In a last act in office, though, Shurtleff signed a settlement letting Bank of America off the hook.

Despite the fact lower attorneys in the office counselled against doing so. Despite the fact the move was seen as weakening the state's ability to enforce the law. 

Shurtleff said there was no connection between his action and Bank of America being a client of his upcoming employer. I would say, though, that if he so much as was aware that B of A was a client, he should not have taken the action he did.

Using public office for personal benefit is wrong. Doing so at the expense of the public is wrong. Using public office to let someone out of legal obligations is wrong. Doing so when they will be part of your income is wrong. Standing by the case as it progressed and prospered, only to make a 180 shortly and drop it just after accepting a job with B of A as a client is . . .

Wrong.