SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped three counts of money laundering, bribery and evidence tampering against former Utah Attorney General John Swallow after a key witness refused to testify.
Prosecutors dropped the charges Thursday before resting their influence-peddling case against Swallow, who still faces 10 counts of evidence tampering, bribery, making false statements and other crimes.
Jeremy Johnson, an imprisoned businessman who touched off the scandal by accusing Swallow of orchestrating a bribery plot against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, has refused to testify in Swallow’s case. His lawyer says Johnson worries it could bring federal charges.
Reid has denied any connection to the affair.
Swallow’s lawyers asked the judge to order more charges to be dropped or the case dismissed. Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills says she may rule on it Friday.