Last week, we reported about questions being raised about Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's relationship with businessman Mark Robbins and whether it created a conflict of interest in an investigation into a development near UTA's Draper FrontRunner station, which Robbins had a hand in.
Apparently, the top attorneys in the office thought it created a conflict, because they have turned the case over to the feds to investigate.
One of the tidbits that raised questions about the Robbins-Shurtleff connection was an email Shurtleff sent with his VIP guest list for the 2009 inauguration. The list included Robbins as a "major contributor," but also had an extraordinary cast of characters.
Here's a rundown of who else made it into Shurtleff's inner-circle:
• Tim Lawson Fixer, friend and key player in the various and sundry allegations of misconduct
• Ted Johnson CEO of The Tax Club, defendant in FTC action
• Jeremy Johnson founder of I Works, sued by FTC and facing criminal charges
• Rob Stahura Formerly of Mentoring of America, which was sued by the FTC
• Sov Ouk A friend who, according to City Weekly, Shurtleff helped out.
• Alan Dayton Utah lobbyist for several clients, including, at one time, I Works
• Ryan Poelman Formerly of Bloosky, an online marketing business
• Jason Brailow Direct marketer cited by state, former business partner of Jeremy Johnson
• James Bramble Attorney for USANA
• Bryan Davis & Gordon Morton Co-founders of Xango
• Steve Creamer At the time was CEO of EnergySolutions
• Patrick Byrne Founder of Overstock.com
• Mitch Jensen, David Biggs, Joe Steele Big donors who landed a major contract from the AG to handle a drug lawsuit
• George Brunt & Randy Garn Lawyer for and founder of, respectively, Prosper, Inc., which was sued by the FTC
• Mike Moffitt President of Gold Cross Ambulance
• Doug Foxley Utah lobbyist whose clients include payday loan industry
• Chris Kyler Executive director of Utah Association of Realtors, lobbyist
• Bob Lichfield Founder of a chain of teen wilderness reform camps
• Betty Ariel Former lobbyist for EnergySolutions
• Mark Robbins Figure in Draper UTA project, former partner of Marc Sessions Jenson Documents raise questions about AG's probe of UTA deal
Robert GehrkeTwitter: @RobertGehrke