ST. GEORGE — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, should be criminally investigated over accusations he sexually assaulted multiple women. But, in his opinion, the state Attorney General’s office should appoint an outside prosecutor.

During his monthly PBS Utah Governor’s Press Conference program, taped Thursday morning in Salt Lake City, Cox said he maintains a good relationship with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. The state prosecutor has previously been a public advocate for Ballard. Cox said because of that relationship, either a special prosecutor or a county prosecutor needs to be appointed.

“Every attorney general has lots of friends, and every once in a while their friends get investigated by the Attorney General’s office,” Cox said. “There is a process and a procedure. If that means having a county prosecutor look into it, that’s great. I don’t care how it would be done, but I do think it’s important to make sure that justice is served.”

A previous criminal investigation into Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad, also known as OUR, in Davis County over accusations that were never revealed was dismissed by the county attorney there last year. Cox said the new accusations came after that investigation and should also be investigated.

Reyes was the featured speaker, arriving in a helicopter with Ballard, during the July 30, 2020, “Rise Up For Children” march in St. George. The march, with more than 3,000 people, is still considered to be the largest mass-demonstration in city history.

Reyes also served as the associate producer of the movie “The Sound of Freedom,” in which Jim Caviezel portrayed Ballard.

Cox said he has not spoken directly to Reyes about his relationship with Ballard, but noted that Reyes recently expressed being “shocked and saddened” by the accusations against his close friend. Reyes has since distanced himself from Ballard.

“I’m sure this has been very hard for Sean and his family,” Cox said. “We’ve had a lot of media people and famous people who have talked about how they felt like they were duped. That’s never an easy thing, but Sean and his family are wonderful people and I hope he can get through this difficult situation.” 

Other public figures have also strayed from being linked to Ballard, including talk radio personality Glenn Beck, who headlined a July 2021 event with Ballard in St. George. 

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the United We Pledge foundation, which plans to build the colonial-era Liberty Village attraction in Hurricane, has also separated from the OUR foundation. Ballard spoke with Beck on behalf of United We Pledge during a Fourth of July celebration in St. George.   

Ballard resigned from OUR after what the organization said was an internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations made against him by multiple employees. 

Ballard, now a senior advisor to anti-child trafficking organization The Spear Fund, which was started in July, denies the accusations. Since his resignation, several women have filed civil suits against Ballard and OUR claiming he sexually assaulted them when they posed as his wife during investigations.

In a statement sent last week to St. George News from Spear, Ballard and his wife Katherine said they would fight the accusations and accused some of them of misrepresenting their involvement in OUR. 

“We regret that the five women who have come forward – though still without names and faces – are caught up in this difficult struggle we face together,” the statement read. “Two of these women went on actual Operation Underground Railroad operations. One went on a single operation, and the other woman repeatedly put herself in harm’s way. Three did not go on any actual operations, as they did not make it through the training and certification process.” 

Should the Attorney General be appointed?

Cox elaborated in an interview he provided to KUTV earlier in the week about the potential of the Utah attorney general’s office being changed from an elected office to one appointed by the governor.

Noting that it has nothing to do with Reyes, he said he’s open to other means of determining the attorney general of the state, including an initial governor’s appointment followed by a vote of Utah citizens. Cox added such a change isn’t up to him, it would require the approval of two-thirds of the legislature and then the voters of Utah.

“There are some states where an attorney general is appointed,” Cox said. “It’s a question I’ve always had and this has nothing to do with our current attorney general. I have a great relationship with Sean. But when you run for office in the criminal justice system, there is a little bit of a perverse incentive there. I always think, who are the people that donate to an Attorney General’s race? I think it’s important to kind of look at those incentives and make sure we’re getting the best outcomes.”

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