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Indicted Businessman Names Harry Reid as Alleged Recipient of Massive Bribe

Jan. 12, 2013 8:02pm Erica Ritz

Utah Businessman Jeremy Johnson Claims He Bribed Harry Reid to Make Federal Investigation Disappear

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 04: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) rubs his eyes during the counting of the Electorial College votes from the 50 states in the House of Representatives chamber at the U.S. Captiol January 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images)

A Utah businessman is rocking both state and national politics after claiming Utah Attorney General John Swallow helped him broker a deal with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to make a federal investigation into his company quietly disappear, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Jeremy Johnson was allegedly told that the price would be $600,000, and claims to have made an initial payment of $250,000 when he was slapped with a federal lawsuit. Now he says he wants his money back.

The Salt Lake Tribune points out that Johnson has no way of knowing whether the funds actually made it to Reid, even if he did make a massive payment to Reid’s alleged intermediary.

The Salt Lake Tribune continues, explaining how the bribe supposedly came to be in 2010:

At the time, Johnson was largely known in Utah as a wealthy philanthropist who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to ferry supplies into Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

[...]

Then, with the FTC investigation continuing, Johnson said Swallow suggested Reid could make problems with regulators go away — for a price.

“I said, ‘OK, what do I need to do?’ He’s like, ‘OK, it costs money,’ ” Johnson said, who claimed Swallow was adamant he make a deal.

“I think he told me, ‘Richard Rawle has a connection with Harry Reid,’ ” Johnson said.

He said Swallow at first wanted $2 million to enlist Reid’s help. But [his company] I Works was no longer profitable and he did not have the money, Johnson said, so they eventually agreed on $300,000 upfront and $300,000 later.

Swallow put Johnson in contact with Rawle, whose company has operations in Nevada…

Rawle, who died of cancer last month, had contributed to Reid’s 2010 re-election bid and later bragged to Johnson that the Nevada Democrat helped him delay new federal payday-loan regulations, Johnson said.

On Sept. 29, 2010, Swallow sent an email to Johnson with the subject line “Mtg. with Harry Reid’s contact.”

“Richard [Rawle] is traveling to LV tomorrow and will be able to contact this person, who he has a very good relationship with. He needs a brief narrative of what is going on and what you want to happen. I don’t know the cost, but it probably won’t be cheap.”

On Oct. 7, Johnson emailed Rawle, insisting there was “rock solid proof” the FTC allegations against I Works were false. “We will do whatever it take[s] to get Senator Reid on our side and hopefully you can help make it happen. Let me know.”

Johnson spent 96 days in jail and has released a number of emails and statements seemingly corroborating parts of his story. However, Swallow insists that Johnson is making “false and defamatory accusations” and that any role he may have played was merely for lobbying purposes.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Swallow stated. “As long as I’m not interfering with a government agency as a government official, there’s nothing wrong with me being involved.”

But Johnson told a judge he’s felt guilty about the situation from the start: “The truth is the worst thing I think I’ve done was I paid money knowing it was going to influence Harry Reid…So I’ve felt all along that I’ve committed bribery of some sort there.”

Though the connection to Reid remains unverified, some are remembering how Reid claimed on the Senate floor that Mitt Romney hadn’t paid his taxes for ten years based on far less evidence.

A Las Vegas Review-Journal blog jokes about how Reid might address the situation, if looking in from the outside:

I have a “source” that says that Harry Reid takes bribes all the time. In fact, if you want anything done out of his office, you must come with a suitcase of cash just to get an audience. That’s how he’s gotten so rich on a senator’s salary. He stashes his money in an offshore bank account. And, as a sidebar for Salt Lake church execs, he hasn’t tithed on that bribe money.

Senator Harry Reid’s office has declined to comment.

Click here to read the entire Salt Lake Tribune article.

This post has been updated.

–

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Comments (324)

R2
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:41pm
You can bet it is because of things like this that obumnuts had holder stay on.

Lets see if it gets legs.

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GJPinks
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:37pm
What about Reid’s pederasty problem? Check google.

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JustMeHere_01
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:24pm
I have no idea what is going on here. I say let the FBI do their investigation and see where it leads. I am aware that things like this goes on all the time no matter the political persuasion. This appears to have crooks involved in both parties.

People that have no principles will cheat who ever they can to gain a dollar. I know there were 2 families where I live and one of their sons would order tires and then sell them to get money.

The point is that the partners had to divide their assets and go their separate ways because of one child.

I am sure that Harry Reid is corrupt but this story does not prove anything other than two disgruntled individuals attacking each other.

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RushEcho2
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:14pm
How did he win reelection? ‘Low-information’ voters.

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rayblay
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:02pm
Ho hum–Oh i cant believe this–Are you telling me that Reid is corrupt?If he is corrupt them im going to ikill myself–I have nothing to live for if the honorabe Harry Reid is a crook–Bang–Bang–im outta here–

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bobbie22
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:45pm
I hope they have rock solid evidence. I would love to see Harry Reid retire this very minute if not sooner…

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AmericanStrega
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:44pm
Even if this was proven 100% nothing would happen. These politicians make the laws and can deem themselves above said law. There’s no way to stop them. We cannot vote them out because those we might want do not or cannot raise enough money to stop these jokers. Let’s face it America, WE ARE SCREWED!

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TIMEBOMB
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:38pm
This is outrageous to have an officer of the court involved in illegal activities so I your magnificent gay Marxist ruler will personally conduct the interrogation of Mr.Swallow. With a name like that I know I can get him to open up and reveal all to me.

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rsanchez1
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:22pm
We all knew he was a rat already. All that was left was to make it official.

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osprey40
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:17pm
Just another common thief. What a lo-life son of a bitch.

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mzaz
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:15pm
There isn’t a single person in the senate or congress that has the balls to do anything but sit back and watch these crooks help BO destroy America.

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MisterSarcastic
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:07pm
Reid asks his wife if she’s noticed a difference since he’s been taking his male enhancement pills daily. His wife tells him, ‘Yeah Harry, you’re a bigger d ickhead than ever’.

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bankerpapaw
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:50pm
Why am I not surprised? Harry Reid is a P.O.S. Are the people of Nevada that stupid that they keep
putting that crook back in office?

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- Lt_Scrounge
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:29am
  It doesn’t matter how the people vote, the SEIU works on the voting machines AND the other unions in Las Vegas and Tahoe force their members to vote Democrat, whether they are even eligible to vote or not. There was a story about how they threatened resident aliens with losing their jobs if they didn’t register and vote illegally for the Democrats in November’s election.
  
  Report this comment
Un-Reconstructed
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:50pm
Sometimes it’s the little things that lead up to big things. Watergate started out as a little thing.

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TADTAD
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:33pm
Like he’ll be held accountable. What a laugh.

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Stephen497
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:23pm
It should be the Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home3/55598812-200/johnson-swallow-rawle-attorney.html.csp
Obviously whoever is the editor didn’t check it all out.
It really wouldn’t surprise me because I am still waiting to see a honest politican.

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DadRocked
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:22pm
Surprise Surprise Surprise.
For you young whipper snappers…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_1Pw1xm9U

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MarvinYspam
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:21pm
@John Brown –http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home3/55598812-200/johnson-swallow-rawle-attorney.html.csp

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TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:18pm
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely ~ John Acton

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environmentalandawake
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:16pm
How many times have you all noticed that the same people who put up charges on other people (such as the ones Reid put up on Romney) are usually the ones doing the very thing they charge folk with?

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- Live2BeFree
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:22pm
  that’s how you can tell what the left is up to…listen to what they are accusing the Reps of doing. That is what THEY are really doing.
  
  Report this comment
dumpsterdog
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:06pm
Unfortunately, Democrats are exonerated from committing fraud, not paying taxes, and bribery.

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kangaroo
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:02pm
And the beat goes on.

Just another example of a do nothing about it. These guys are asking for some kind of in country war. And that goes for you Repubs as well, show some Flipping balls would ya
Flat tax and term limits . F U liberals, becareful what you unwitling ask for. Clueless Prats

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bdandsl
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:02pm
So, so many I want to see in orange jumpsuits and harry is as good a start as any.

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Dkoonz
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:00pm
Bunch of crooks.

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- Val_Dragon
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:22pm
  http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/2013/01/11/brown-is-this-the-scandal-that-will-bring-obama-down/
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:49pm
  I say…
  “Surprise Surprise Surprise!”
  For you young whipper snappers…
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_1Pw1xm9U
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:20pm
  Reid is a theif and a liar but that is why Obama likes him so much.
  
  Report this comment
- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:28pm
  @dadrocked
  The gomer humor is not lost.
  
  Report this comment
- YAHSHUARULES
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:29pm
  Do you know who the Fabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing); SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, Herbert Markusa and Franz Noima; John Dewey, Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Saul Alinski (who dedicated his book which Obama taught for years in Chicago “Rules for Radicals” to Lucifer) was a disciple of Gramsci used to train at the rifle range with Leon Despres preparing for the revolution to take down America, later became a mentor to Obama and.Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House..
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  All part of the Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks; use public policy to subvert America from inside, infiltrate and influence our culture to break down basic rules of morality driving us in a direction designed to destroy us. . No conspiracy – just verifiable facts! If you don’t know all this you need to find out!
  This is the most comprehensive, best movie I have seen pulling all this together. I have watched it 12X to absorb all that is in it…give it 5 minutes and you won’t be able to walk away
  Watch it. Share it. Arrange a showing in church, groups, clubs, with friends or family. Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie,
  It is free on line for the moment
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…
  
  Report this comment
- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:57pm
  @dadrocked
  You are right this is a gomer moment.
  Who would’ve thought such a righteous man that critiqued romney religion would be a thief himself?
  No he was broke before he became a senator but now he is a billionaire- how did that happen as he was just a humble public servant?
  I guess working for the govt has some secret rewards he doesn’t want folks to know bout.
  
  Report this comment
- subic
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:11am
  Good post val_dragon. Hussein needs to be held accountable for Benghazi. Reed needs to finally have something stick. This would be a good start to bring down and toss these tyrants into prison.
  
  Report this comment
breakobamanow
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:00pm
Did any of you not know that Reid as well as most every member of congress works for other people beside you. The orders come from the top, and the top is those with money. Not even Obama is making all his own choices because he in owned. When will people start listening to the truth and be saved from what is coming? You cannot save yourself. I can’t believe that only a little over 1700 people have watched this in a year and a half since it was broadcast.

http://sureynot.com/v/1475/wvb-06-19-11.html

Look at your life. Why do you labor in vain to give it to others for temporary satisfaction? There is something you can get for free that will last an eternity.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:30pm
  besides Herpes?
  
  Report this comment
- JustMeHere_01
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:37pm
  @breakobamanow
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:00pm
  Did any of you not know that Reid as well as most every member of congress works for other people beside you. The orders come from the top, and the top is those with money. Not even Obama is making all his own choices because he in owned. When will people start listening to the truth and be saved from what is coming? You cannot save yourself. I can’t believe that only a little over 1700 people have watched this in a year and a half since it was broadcast.
  
  http://sureynot.com/v/1475/wvb-06-19-11.html
  
  Look at your life. Why do you labor in vain to give it to others for temporary satisfaction? There is something you can get for free that will last an eternity
  ————————————–.
  I may disagree with one of our points. Pres. Obama knows exactly what he is doing and is doing so on his own free will. It may be true that he governs from his handlers on the tel-prompter but it is his own doing as well.
  
  He believes in what he is doing even if he needs others to direct his message. That sounds a bit silly doesn’t it.
  
  Pres. Obama wants to destroy America. He may not know exactly how on his own, so yes he relies on his handlers to provide the wording for him to achieve his goal.
  
  Report this comment

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