SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is facing scrutiny for his decadelong friendship with the embattled founder of an anti-child-trafficking organization, announced Friday that he will not seek reelection in 2024.
The Republican had announced in September that he would seek a fourth term. Reyes is now backtracking on that decision and has pledged to dedicate his final year in office to investigating the sex abuse claims against his longtime friend, Tim Ballard.
Ballard, the now-ousted founder of nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad, has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women and is the subject of a criminal investigation. His organization rose to prominence last summer as a focal point of the film “Sound of Freedom,” which was widely praised by conservative moviegoers and included a producer credit for the attorney general.
In a video announcement, Reyes said he sat down with each person who had come forward with accusations to tell them that he believed them and was heartbroken for the trauma they had endured.
“I apologized to each of them that my past friendship with Tim Ballard and past association with OUR contributed to an environment that made them feel powerless and without a voice for so many years,” he said. “I cannot give them back those voiceless years, but I intend on spending my last year in office working together with these survivors and any others who come forward so that their voices are heard.”
Suzette Rasmussen, an attorney representing the accusers, said her clients have accepted Reyes’ apology and respect that he was “the first and only person” to accept responsibility for his role in supporting Ballard.
The SPEAR Fund, an organization that has been issuing statements on Ballard’s behalf, did not immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment on Reyes’ remarks. Ballard has previously denied the sexual assault allegations.
Despite Reyes’ recent attempts to distance himself from…
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