You’d think the top law enforcement officer in Utah would be easy to find during business hours. Maybe at the State Capitol. Maybe in a courtroom. But for years, Sean Reyes was reportedly running the show from a private, members-only barbershop.
It sounds like a plot from a B-list political thriller. Sadly, it’s just one weird chapter in the sprawling utah attorney general scandal that has left taxpayers wondering where their money actually went.
Politics is always messy. But what happened in the Utah AG’s office over the last few years wasn't just typical partisan bickering. It was a systematic breakdown of transparency that eventually forced a three-term incumbent to pack his bags.
The Barbershop and the "Shadow" Calendar
When legislative auditors finally started digging into Reyes' schedule in 2024, they hit a brick wall. Or rather, a wall of redactions.
Auditors found that Reyes had been conducting official state business at a private barbershop—likely Mac’s Place in Salt Lake City—roughly 50 times between 2022 and 2023. When they asked for his calendar to verify his whereabouts, they got back documents that were scrubbed cleaner than a surgical suite.
Basically, the AG was playing hide-and-seek with the people who pay his salary.
The audit, released in early 2025, was blistering. It described an "absent leader" who prioritized personal networking over the day-to-day operations of the office. In fact, some division directors in the AG's office told investigators they hardly ever saw the guy. Reyes didn't even start attending regular monthly meetings with his own senior staff until after the legislature launched the probe in November 2023.
The Tim Ballard and O.U.R. Connection
You can't talk about the utah attorney general scandal without talking about Tim Ballard.
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Reyes and Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), were famously close. They went on "sting" missions together in South America. Reyes even wrote a scene for Sound of Freedom, the movie based on Ballard’s life.
But things got dark fast.
In 2023, Ballard was accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, grooming, and "spiritual manipulation." As the allegations piled up, the spotlight turned to Reyes. Why was the state’s top prosecutor so cozy with a man being accused of predatory behavior?
Auditors found that Reyes’ office received about $950,000 in donations from O.U.R. for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit. Here’s the kicker: the AG’s office told local law enforcement the money was from a federal grant. They basically laundered the reputation of the donation.
Reyes eventually apologized. He said he believed the women and regretted that his friendship with Ballard made them feel "powerless." But by then, the damage to public trust was terminal.
The $1 Billion Rubicon Lawsuit: When Investigations Go Wrong
While the barbershop and the Ballard friendship made for crazy headlines, the legal fallout is where the real money is.
In late 2025, a company called Rubicon Contracting filed a massive $1 billion federal lawsuit against Reyes and his team. This wasn't just a "we disagree with you" lawsuit. It was an "you tried to destroy us for a photo op" lawsuit.
What happened with Rubicon?
- In 2023, the AG’s office raided Rubicon, accusing them of aggravated human trafficking.
- They invited news cameras to film the raid.
- The charges were later dismissed in 2024 after a judge, Rita Cornish, hammered the prosecution for "overcharging" and lacking evidence.
- The lawsuit claims Reyes "manufactured" the charges to justify funding for his "SECURE Strike Force" and to distract from the Ballard scandal.
Imagine being a business owner and having the state’s most powerful lawyer use you as a political prop. That’s what Rubicon is alleging. They claim their business was decimated and their reputations were trashed just so Reyes could look like a "trafficking fighter."
The LAVA Nonprofit and Conflict of Interest
Reyes also had a personal nonprofit called Liberate All Value All (LAVA).
According to the 2025 audit, he used his elected position to solicit donations for LAVA. This is a huge red flag. When you’re the Attorney General, you shouldn't be asking companies you might have to investigate to cut checks to your private charity.
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The audit suggested that Reyes "leveraged his oversight authority" to keep these funds flowing. It’s a classic conflict of interest that, in any other setting, would have triggered immediate disciplinary action.
Why the Scandal Still Matters in 2026
Sean Reyes didn't run for re-election in 2024. He’s gone from the office. But the utah attorney general scandal isn't over.
His successor, Derek Brown, took office in January 2025 with one main job: clean up the mess. Brown has already implemented new rules. You have to document your schedule now. There are strict limits on outside organizations.
But Utah has a history here.
Before Reyes, there was John Swallow. Before Swallow, there was Mark Shurtleff. Both were also embroiled in massive corruption investigations. Utahns are rightfully cynical. Three AGs in a row have been under the microscope for ethics violations or worse.
Honestly, it’s a lot for one state to handle. The "culture of the office" is a phrase you hear a lot in Salt Lake City these days.
What You Can Do Next
The legal system moves slowly, but there are ways to keep tabs on how your tax dollars are being used—and misused.
Watch the Court Dockets
The $1 billion Rubicon lawsuit is moving through federal court. This will be the ultimate test of whether Reyes' "Strike Force" was a legitimate law enforcement tool or a PR machine. Keep an eye on updates from the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
Review the Audit Findings
Don't take a summary's word for it. The "Performance Audit of the Position of the Attorney General" (January 2025) is a public document. It’s long, but the sections on "Governance and Transparency" are eye-opening. You can find it on the Utah State Legislature’s website.
Support Transparency Legislation
Following the scandal, several bills have been introduced to make the AG an appointed position rather than an elected one, or to strictly prohibit outside legal work. If you want to see the office change, tracking these bills in the current legislative session is your best bet.
The utah attorney general scandal is a reminder that power, when left unchecked in a "private barbershop," usually ends in a courtroom. Whether it’s $1 billion in damages or a loss of public trust, the price is always paid by the citizens.