{{Short description|American lawyer and politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Sean Reyes |image = Sean Reyes (5893896909) (cropped).jpg |office = 21st [[Utah Attorney General|Attorney General of Utah]] |governor = [[Gary Herbert]]<br />[[Spencer Cox]] |term_start = December 30, 2013 |term_end = January 6, 2025 |predecessor = [[John Swallow]] |successor = [[Derek Brown (politician)|Derek Brown]] |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|2|16}} |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |spouse = Saysha Fawson |children = 6 |education = [[Brigham Young University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]]) |signature = Sean D. Reyes Signature.png |website = {{url|seanreyes.com|Official website}} }} '''Sean David Reyes''' (born February 16, 1971)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/12/09/sean-reyes-timeline-rising |title=Sean Reyes timeline — from rising Republican star to Utah A.G. To cloud of scandal}}</ref> is an American lawyer and politician who served as the [[Utah Attorney General|Attorney General of Utah]] from 2013 to 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor [[Gary Herbert]] following the resignation of [[John Swallow]], Reyes was reelected. Reyes is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and is a vocal and longtime supporter of [[Donald Trump]]. He has served as a county, state, and national delegate for the Republican Party and a member of the [[Utah Republican Party]]'s State Central Committee.
==Early life and education== Reyes was raised in the [[Los Angeles area]]. His father was an immigrant from the [[Philippines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cana |first=Paul |date=3 Feb 2023 |title=Meet Sean Reyes, the Highest-Ranking Filipino-American Official in the U.S. |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/sean-reyes-utah-attprney-general-a00289-20230203-lfrm2 |access-date=7 Sep 2023 |website=Esquire}}</ref> His mother was of half-[[Native Hawaiian]] and half-[[Japanese people|Japanese]] descent.<ref name=Robinson>Doug Robinson, [https://www.deseret.com/2016/1/10/20580269/sean-reyes-out-of-the-hood-into-the-ag-s-office Sean Reyes — Out of the 'hood, into the AG's office], ''Deseret News'' (January 10, 2016).</ref> He is a great-nephew of former [[Philippine]] President [[Ramon Magsaysay]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caña |first=Paul John |date=2023-02-03 |title=Meet Sean Reyes, the Highest-Ranking Filipino-American Official in the U.S. |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/sean-reyes-utah-attprney-general-a00289-20230203-lfrm2 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]}}</ref>
Reyes earned his bachelor's degree, ''[[summa cum laude]]'', from [[Brigham Young University]] in 1994.<ref name=Robinson/> He graduated from [[University of California, Berkeley School of Law|University of California, Berkeley, School of Law]] in 1997.<ref name=Robinson/><ref name=UCBerk>[https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/sean-reyes-97-wins-first-aba-national-outstanding-young-lawyer-award/ Sean Reyes '97 Wins First ABA National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award], University of California, Berkeley School of Law (November 29, 2007).</ref>
==Early career== Reyes spent 14 years working at Utah's largest law firm, Parsons Behle & Latimer,<ref name=Gehrke>Robert Gehrke, [https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=57333806&itype=CMSID Reyes tackles tall tasks as Utah's new attorney general], ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (December 31, 2013).</ref> where he became the first [[person of color]] to become a [[law firm partner|partner]].<ref>[https://www.deseret.com/2008/2/7/20381844/young-lawyer-sean-reyes-face-of-modern-utah Young Lawyer Sean Reyes, face of modern Utah], ''Deseret News'' (February 7, 2008).</ref> He practiced commercial litigation and employment law.<ref name=UCBerk/> He later became general counsel for eTAGz, a [[Springville, Utah]]-based media and technology company<ref>{{cite news |title= Gov. names Sean Reyes as Utah attorney general |url= http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gov-names-sean-reyes-as-utah-attorney-general/article_9d3ff568-6c00-11e3-aacc-0019bb2963f4.html |newspaper= [[Daily Herald (Utah)|Daily Herald]] |agency= Associated Press |date= December 23, 2013}}</ref> that aimed to develop products for embedding digital files on packaging.<ref name=Gehrke/> He was also a partner and co-founder of the [[venture capital]] firm Accelerate Ventures,<ref name=Romm>Tony Romm, [https://web.archive.org/web/20170118122814/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/sean-reyes-ftc-chair-trump-233702 Trump transition weighing Utah attorney general for FTC], ''Politico'' (January 17, 2017).</ref> a state [[small claims court]] judge,<ref name=UPR>[https://www.upr.org/post/swallow-vs-reyes-heated-gop-race-utahs-next-attorney-general Swallow vs. Reyes: A Heated GOP Race for Utah's Next Attorney General], Utah Public Radio.</ref> and president of the Minority Bar Association.<ref name=UPR/>
==Utah Attorney General== ===Elections=== Reyes ran for [[Attorney General of Utah|state Attorney General]] in 2012 against Deputy state Attorney General [[John Swallow]]. He lost the primary election by a margin of 68 to 32 percent.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ksl.com/?sid=21014078 | title= Swallow beats Reyes in AG race; Dougall wins for auditor |work= KSL.com |publisher= [[KSL-TV]] |first= Dennis |last= Romboy |date= June 26, 2012}}</ref> After Swallow resigned amid scandal in December 2013,<ref name=Gehrke/> Reyes was selected by the [[Utah Republican Party]] State Central Committee as one of three candidates to fill the vacancy (on December 14, 2013), and [[Utah Governor]] [[Gary Herbert]] appointed Reyes to the position (on December 23, 2013).<ref name="appointment">{{cite news |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765644100/Gov-Gary-Herbert-names-Sean-Reyes-as-Utah-attorney-general.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112210/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765644100/Gov-Gary-Herbert-names-Sean-Reyes-as-Utah-attorney-general.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 24, 2013 |title= Gov. Gary Herbert names Sean Reyes as Utah attorney general |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] |date= December 23, 2013}}</ref>
Because of Utah's election laws, Reyes had to run in the [[2014 Utah elections]] to be elected to finish out the remainder of Swallow's term.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gov-names-sean-reyes-as-utah-attorney-general/article_9d3ff568-6c00-11e3-aacc-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Gov. names Sean Reyes as Utah attorney general |accessdate=26 June 2014|newspaper=Daily Herald|date=23 December 2013}}</ref> He won with 63.06 percent of the vote over his [[Utah Democratic Party|Democratic]] challenger, Charles A. Stormont, and Libertarian candidate Andrew McCullough.<ref>{{citation |url=https://voteinfo.utah.gov/historical-election-results/|title=2014 Election Results|journal=CSA News |date=2014 |volume=59 |issue=5 |page=29 |doi=10.2134/csa2014-59-5-9 |bibcode=2014CSAN...59e..29. |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 2016, members of the [[Latter Day Church of Christ]], a [[Mormon fundamentalist]] denomination, donated to Reyes' campaign for attorney general individually and through Washakie Renewable Energy, a business partially owned by members of the LDCC. Reyes' representatives indicated in response to these reports that the contributions had been placed in [[escrow]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Winslow|first1=Ben|title=Company linked to Kingston polygamous group spends a lot on Utah's Capitol Hill|url=https://www.fox13now.com/2016/02/15/company-linked-to-kingston-polygamous-group-spends-a-lot-on-utahs-capitol-hill/|accessdate=15 January 2018|agency=Fox13|date=15 February 2016}}</ref>
In 2020, Reyes ran for a third term. He was challenged for the Republican nomination by [[Utah County]] [[County Attorney|Attorney]] David Leavitt,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Richards |first1=Connor |title=Utah County Attorney David Leavitt announces run for Utah Attorney General |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/utah-county-attorney-david-leavitt-announces-run-for-utah-attorney/article_2fef064a-2078-5ae8-b2c9-35e5049c08cc.htmlaccessdate=2020-04-20 |publisher=[[Daily Herald (Utah)|Daily Herald]] |date=2020-03-16}}</ref> but won the Republican renomination in the July 2020 [[Partisan primary|primary election]] with 54.04% of the vote.<ref>[https://voteinfo.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2020/07/2020-Primary-Election-Canvass.pdf 2020 Regular Primary Election Canvass, State of Utah]</ref> In the November 2020 general election, Reyes was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Greg Skordas.<ref name=Whitehurst/>
During the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Reyes was an [[United States Electoral College#Electors|elector]]. Unable to serve because of [[COVID-19]] self-quarantine,<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 December 2020|first=Simone|last=Seikaly|title=Utah AG Reyes unable to vote as Elector, Love steps in|url=https://kslnewsradio.com/1938663/utah-ag-reyes-unable-to-vote-as-elector-love-steps-in/?|access-date=5 January 2021|publisher=[[KSL (radio network)|KSLNewsRadio]]|quote=According to Reyes' chief of staff, Ric Cantrell, Reyes needed to quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19. |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105073711/https://kslnewsradio.com/1938663/utah-ag-reyes-unable-to-vote-as-elector-love-steps-in/|archive-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> [[Mia Love]] was nominated as a replacement elector.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-05|title=2020 Electoral College Results; Utah Certificate of Vote 2020|url=https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/2020|access-date=2021-01-05|website=National Archives|language=en|page=[https://www.archives.gov/files/electoral-college/2020/vote-utah.pdf#page=2 2]|last1=Cox|first1=Spencer J.|author-link1=Spencer Cox (politician)}}</ref>
===Tenure=== In 2015, Reyes joined [[Tim Ballard]] in a sting operation in Colombia of Ballard´s non-profit [[Operation Underground Railroad]].<ref name="SaltLakeCity2015">{{Cite news |last=Ben Winslow |date=2015-01-15 |title=VIDEO: Utah Attorney General goes undercover in child sex trafficking sting |language=en |work=Fox 13 Salt Lake City |url=https://www.fox13now.com/2015/01/14/exclusive-the-utah-ags-secret-trip-to-participate-in-a-child-sex-trafficking-sting |access-date=2023-09-08}}</ref> During his time with Operation Underground Railroad, Reyes emerged as a global leader in the fight against human trafficking, leading daring undercover missions to rescue victims and spearheading prosecutions to dismantle trafficking networks.<ref name="AttorneyatLaw">{{cite web |url=https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/stories/government-interview/attorney-general-sean-reyes |title=Attorney General Sean Reyes: Carries on Legacy of Service |publisher=Attorney at Law Magazine |date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEgL2dNqsSs |title=Attorney General Reyes Receives the DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal for Work on Human Trafficking |publisher=Utah Attorney General's Office |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=January 6, 2026 |via=YouTube}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://geneva.usmission.gov/2020/11/09/upr-usa-reyes/ |title=UPR of the United States: Statement by Sean Reyes, Attorney General of Utah |publisher=U.S. Mission to Geneva |date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/17/utah-attorney-general-undercover-sex-trafficking-colombia |title=Utah attorney general goes undercover to stop child-sex trade in Colombia |publisher=The Guardian |date=January 17, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref>
As attorney general, Reyes frequently joined other Republican state attorneys general who sued the [[Obama administration]] on various issues, ranging from [[federal lands]] use to [[transgender rights]].<ref name=Romm/>
Immediately after taking office, Reyes appealed U.S. District Judge [[Robert J. Shelby]]'s [[Kitchen v. Herbert|ruling that struck down Amendment 3, the state's same-sex marriage ban]].<ref name="Farinas1">{{cite news|last=Farinas|first=Gerald|title=New Utah attorney general vows to defend same-sex marriage ban|url=http://chicagophoenix.com/2013/12/30/new-utah-attorney-general-vows-to-defend-same-sex-marriage-ban/|accessdate=3 November 2016|newspaper=Chicago Phoenix|date=30 December 2013|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214034729/http://chicagophoenix.com/2013/12/30/new-utah-attorney-general-vows-to-defend-same-sex-marriage-ban/|archivedate=February 14, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The estimated $2 million price tag in appealing Shelby's ruling was criticized by [[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|''The Advocate'']], ''[[Daily Kos]]'', and [[ThinkProgress]].<ref name="Ford1">{{cite news|last=Ford|first=Zack|title=Utah's Novel Argument: Banning Same-Sex Marriage Encourages 'Diversity' In Parenting|url=http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/01/06/3122171/utahs-argument-banning-sex-marriage-encourages-diversity-parenting/|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=ThinkProgress|date=6 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="Anderson1">{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/01/01/utah-spend-whopping-2-million-fight-marriage|title=Utah to Spend Whopping $2 Million to Fight Marriage|last=Anderson-Minshall|first=Diane|publisher=The Advocate|accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="Boerl1">{{cite news|last=Boerl|first=Dr. Christopher|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/30/1266018/-Utah-to-Spend-2-Million-Fighting-Marriage-Equality-Questions-Arise-Regarding-Fiscal-Value|title=Utah to Spend $2 Million Fighting Marriage Equality, Questions Arise Regarding Fiscal Values|date=30 December 2013|newspaper=Daily Kos|accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref> In response, Reyes stated, "We're willing to spend whatever it takes to protect the laws and the will of the people" and that "everyone benefits from appealing the case."<ref name="Roche1">{{cite news|last=Roche|first=Lisa Roche|title=Attorney General Sean Reyes takes oath, poised to appeal gay marriage ruling|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865593268/Attorney-General-Sean-Reyes-takes-oath-poised-to-appeal-gay-marriage-ruling.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102151553/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865593268/Attorney-General-Sean-Reyes-takes-oath-poised-to-appeal-gay-marriage-ruling.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2014|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=Deseret News|date=30 December 2013}}</ref> The [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit]] upheld the district court's ruling; Reyes petitioned the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] for review, but the court denied his request to hear the case.<ref> *''[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14533722201297318497 Kitchen v. Herbert]'', 755 F.3d 1193 (10th Cir. 2014), ''cert. denied'', 574 U.S. 874, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2793857904272636336 135 S.Ct. 265] (2014). *Marissa Lang, [https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=58165963&itype=CMSID Utah appealing gay-marriage case directly to Supreme Court], ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (July 14, 2014). *Niraj Chokshi, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/05/utah-attorney-general-takes-gay-marriage-fight-to-supreme-court/ Virginia, Utah attorneys general take gay marriage fight to the Supreme Court], ''Washington Post'' (August 5, 2014).</ref>
In 2020, after the [[New York Attorney General]] sued the [[National Rifle Association of America]], asserting that [[Wayne LaPierre]] and other NRA officials unlawfully misappropriated NRA funds for personal expenses and self-enrichment,<ref>{{cite web |title=Attorney General James Files Lawsuit to Dissolve NRA |url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2020/attorney-general-james-files-lawsuit-dissolve-nra |website=ag.ny.gov |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806184914/https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2020/attorney-general-james-files-lawsuit-dissolve-nra |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |language=en-US |date=August 6, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=State of New York v. The National Rifle Association of America |url=https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/summons_and_complaint_1.pdf |website=ag.ny.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807012359/https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/summons_and_complaint_1.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |language=en-US |date=August 6, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reyes joined [[Arkansas Attorney General]] [[Leslie Rutledge]] in filing an amicus brief challenging the New York suit. Reyes asserted that the New York AG was discriminating against the NRA.<ref name="Schott">{{cite news |author1=Bryan Schott |title=Utah's Sean Reyes signs on to support lawsuit seeking to protect the NRA |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/12/24/reyes-signs-support-nra/ |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224213757/https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/12/24/reyes-signs-support-nra/ |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Trump support==== Reyes is a vocal and longtime supporter of [[Donald Trump]].<ref name=TrumpPraise>Dan Harrie, [https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/08/27/sean-reyes-will-speak-gop/ Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes praises Trump as 'warrior' against human trafficking], ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (August 27, 2020).</ref> In late-January 2017, Reyes was named as a top candidate for the chairmanship of the [[Federal Trade Commission]] by officials in the Trump administration.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Apuzzo|first=Matt|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/us/politics/sean-reyes-utah-attorney-general-ftc.html|title=Utah Attorney General Makes a Trump Shortlist, and Donations Pour In|date=2017-04-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He praised Trump in a speech at the [[2020 Republican National Convention]],<ref name=TrumpPraise/> and Trump endorsed him in his 2020 primary.<ref name=Whitehurst>[https://apnews.com/39621f33b02d9245f78ba1f4b2ea9c5b Sean Reyes bests GOP challenger in attorney general race], Associated Press (July 3, 2020).</ref> Reyes was also named Utah state co-chairman of Trump's reelection campaign.<ref name=TrumpPraise/> In September 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], Reyes appeared in the front row of an indoor [[List of post-election Donald Trump rallies|Trump rally]] in Nevada, without [[social distancing]] from other attendees and without wearing a [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|face mask]], garnering criticism.<ref>Sean P. Means, [https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/09/15/utahs-attorney-general/ Utah's attorney general attends a Trump rally without a mask, and his challenger criticizes him for it], ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (September 15, 2020).</ref>
In November 2020, Reyes took several days leave to go to Nevada in a bid to bolster the Trump campaign's claims of purported voter fraud in neighboring [[Nevada]]. Reyes claimed that "voting irregularities" occurred but never provided any evidence for this claim.<ref name=Schott/><ref name=Stevens>Taylor Stevens, [https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/11/11/nevada-attorney-general/ Nevada attorney general criticizes Utah's Sean Reyes for his unfounded claims of voting irregularities], ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (November 11, 2020).</ref> [[Nevada Attorney General]] [[Aaron D. Ford|Aaron Ford]] noted that there was no evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 Nevada elections, stated that Reyes had not returned his telephone calls or text messages, and termed his conduct "disrespectful" to Nevada.<ref name=Schott/><ref name=Stevens/> A number of Utah officials, as well as the [[United Utah Party]], criticized Reyes for baselessly undermining faith in the democratic process without evidence.<ref name=Stevens/>
In December 2020, Reyes joined a group of 16 other Republican [[state attorneys general]] in a failed [[Texas v. Pennsylvania|lawsuit]] to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. His participation in the suit was criticized by the outgoing Utah Governor, [[Gary Herbert]], and his successor, [[Lieutenant Governor of Utah|Lieutenant Governor]] and [[Governor-elect]] [[Spencer Cox (politician)|Spencer Cox]].<ref>Dennis Romboy, [https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/12/9/22166454/news-herbert-cox-condemn-attorney-general-sean-reyes-amicus-brief-texas-lawsuit-trump-election-fraud Herbert, Cox condemn Utah A.G. Reyes joining Texas lawsuit challenging election], ''Deseret News'' (December 9, 2020).</ref><ref>Madeleine Porter, [https://kslnewsradio.com/1938424/herbert-cox-reyes-election-lawsuit/? Herbert, Cox call action of Reyes on election lawsuit "unwise"], KSL (December 9, 2020).</ref> Utahns created a petition calling for Reyes's recall.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Waste of our taxpayer's money': Herbert, Cox again blast Reyes over elections lawsuit participation|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50064982/waste-of-our-taxpayers-money-herbert-cox-again-blast-reyes-over-elections-lawsuit-participation|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ksl.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/2020/12/11/945617913/supreme-court-shuts-door-on-trump-election-prospects Supreme Court Shuts Door On Texas Suit Seeking To Overturn Election], NPR (November 11, 2020).</ref> The suit, which attempted to invoke the U.S. Supreme Court's [[original jurisdiction]], was brought by Texas Attorney General [[Ken Paxton]], against Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, four [[swing state]]s in which [[Joe Biden]] defeated Trump. The suit repeated claims made by Trump and his allies - which had [[Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 United States presidential election|already been rejected in other state and federal courts]] - that the election was marred by widespread voter fraud. Paxton asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the states' 62 electoral votes, allowing Trump to be declared the winner.<ref>[https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article247732680.html Missouri, Kansas sign onto lawsuit seeking to overturn presidential election], ''[[Kansas City Star]]'', Bryan Lowry, December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-courts-election-results-e1297d874f45d2b14bc99c403abd0457 Trump thought courts were key to winning. Judges disagreed], ''[[Associated Press]]'', Coleen Long and Ed White, December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|title=Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results.|last=Liptak|first=Adam|date=December 8, 2020|work=The New York Times|accessdate=25 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Platoff|first=Emma|date=2020-12-08|title=In new lawsuit, Texas contests election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/08/texas-ken-paxton-election-georgia/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Publicity stunt': AGs in battleground states blast Texas counterpart for challenging Biden's win|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/publicity-stunt-ags-battleground-states-blast-texas-counterpart-challenging-biden-n1250383|access-date=2020-12-25|website=NBC News|date=December 8, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lindell|first=Chuck|title=Ken Paxton asks Supreme Court to block Joe Biden victory in 4 battleground states|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2020/12/08/texas-ag-ken-paxton-asks-supreme-court-block-biden-wins-4-states/6489417002/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref> Legal experts stated that the suit was meritless.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/12/09/trump-says-hell-join-texas-lawsuit-asking-supreme-court-to-block-62-biden-electors-from-four-states/|title=17 states, and Trump, join Texas request for Supreme Court to overturn Biden wins in four states|date=December 9, 2020|website=Dallas News|accessdate=December 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|title=Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results.|first=Adam|last=Liptak|work=The New York Times |date=December 8, 2020|via=NYTimes.com|accessdate=December 25, 2020}}</ref> Election law expert [[Rick Hasen]] described the lawsuit as "the dumbest case I've ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump and his GOP loyalists seek to pile on Supreme Court election challenge|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-gop-loyalists-seek-pile-supreme-court-election/story?id=74636127|access-date=2020-12-25|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Amber|title=Why the Texas lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election may be the most outlandish effort yet|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/10/why-texas-lawsuit-overturn-2020-election-may-be-most-outlandish-effort-yet/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 11, 2020|access-date=December 25, 2020|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20201211120810/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/10/why-texas-lawsuit-overturn-2020-election-may-be-most-outlandish-effort-yet/|archivedate=December 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Nebraska Republican Senator [[Ben Sasse]] said the situation of Paxton initiating the lawsuit "looks like a fella begging for a [[pardon]] filed a [[PR stunt]]"; at the time he brought the suit, Paxton was facing a federal securities fraud charge and allegations of abuse of office allegations).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Platoff |first1=Emma |title=With election lawsuit, Ken Paxton — like Donald Trump — makes a Hail Mary play |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/10/ken-paxton-donald-trump-election-lawsuit/ |access-date=December 25, 2020 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]] |date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> On December 11, the U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected the suit which Reyes had joined, in an unsigned opinion.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election], ''[[New York Times]]'', December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 20202.</ref>
== Personal life == Reyes and his wife Saysha have six children.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865592947/Sean-Reyes-vows-to-restore-integrity-to-Utah-Attorney-Generals-Office.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20131224145321/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865592947/Sean-Reyes-vows-to-restore-integrity-to-Utah-Attorney-Generals-Office.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 24, 2013 |title= Sean Reyes vows to restore 'integrity' to Utah Attorney General's Office |newspaper= Deseret News |first= Amy Joi |last= O'Donoghue |date= December 23, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="AmyJoi1">{{cite news|last=O'Donoghue|first=Amy Joi|title=New A.G. Sean Reyes pledges to 'raise the bar'|url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28126935|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=KSL News|date=23 December 2013}}</ref>
A member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), Reyes was a [[bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]] in [[Salt Lake City]] for five years in his early career.<ref name=Robinson/>
== Television ==
Reyes appeared as himself in three episodes of A&E network's ''[[The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch]]''. His first appearance was in 2020's S1.E8 "Revelations." Reyes later appears twice in 2023: S4.E4 "The Watchers"and S4.E12 "In and Out,"<ref>{{Citation |title=Revelations |date=2020-06-02 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12440662/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |series=The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch |others=Linda Moulton Howe, Brandon Fugal, Travis Taylor}}</ref>
== Controversy == On November 14, 2023, the Utah legislature authorized a formal audit of Reyes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Citing Sean Reyes' relationship with Tim Ballard, lawmakers green light audit of Utah Attorney General's Office |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/11/14/23961524/utah-attorney-general-sean-reyes-to-face-audit-over-tim-ballard-relationship |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref> A bipartisan group of legislators stated they were concerned with Reyes' relationship with [[Tim Ballard]] and [[Operation Underground Railroad]]. The letter directly asked the audit committee to investigate four different areas, including Reyes' travel practices and procedures, the culture of the Attorney General's office, the government of the office, and if Reyes' involvement with Operation Underground Railroad impaired his judgment or misused state resources. This audit request came shortly after a separate lawsuit claimed Reyes intimidated witnesses related to an OUR investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Full documents: Utah AG Sean Reyes accused of witness tampering and intimidation |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/full-documents-utah-ag-sean-reyes-accused-of-witness-tampering-and-intimidation |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) |language=en}}</ref>
On November 27, 2023, a lawsuit was filed by Suzanne Whitehead where she accused Reyes of witness tampering.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Lawsuit accuses Utah AG Sean Reyes of using his office to silence OUR critics |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/utah-attorney-general-sean-reyes-accused-of-using-office-to-silence-ballard-critic |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) |language=en}}</ref> In the lawsuit, she accused Reyes of using his authority to "unconstitutionally suppress" free speech, but on December 19, 2023, she voluntarily dismissed all claims against Reyes, and he was removed from the case at that point and never added back.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://kutv.com/news/local/claims-against-utah-attorney-general-sean-reyes-dismissed-in-lawsuit-against-tim-ballard-operation-underground-railroad | title = Claims against Sean Reyes dismissed in lawsuit involving Tim Ballard | last = Hill | first = Victoria | date = 2023-12-24 | website = KUTV | access-date = 2026-02-05 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2024/08/08/lawsuit-alleging-tim-ballard-tried/ | title = Lawsuit alleging Tim Ballard tried to intimidate critics is dismissed | date = 2024-08-08 | website = The Salt Lake Tribune | access-date = 2026-02-05 }}</ref> The lawsuit also mentioned Reyes was a ghostwriter for a potential sequel to ''Sounds of Freedom''. Reyes wrote himself into the show, where he called himself one of the Republican Party's top four rising stars and potential White House material. Concerns included Reyes' potential conflict of interest. At one time, Reyes' job title on LinkedIn was updated to "Associate Producer, Sound of Freedom,' then reverted to "Utah Attorney General."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/utah-ag-knew-about-nonprofit-psychic-paid-to-speak-with-dead-mormon-leaders | title=Utah AG knew about psychic paid to speak with 'dead Mormon leaders' | date=September 30, 2023 }}</ref>
In November 2023, the Utah Attorney's General's office confirmed that Reyes knew Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) used donations to retain a psychic, Janet Russon,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Psychic who aided Tim Ballard says she never spoke to Book of Mormon Prophet Nephi |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2023/12/16/psychic-who-aided-tim-ballard-says/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Fact Check: Utah AG's support of 'psychic intel' contradicts police data |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/fact-check-utah-ags-support-of-psychic-intel-contradicts-police-data |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) |language=en}}</ref> to find missing and/or dead children. His office issued a statement that Utah law enforcement does not engage psychics but that they "sometimes provide useful information."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-30 |title=Utah AG knew about psychic paid to speak with 'dead Mormon leaders' |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/utah-ag-knew-about-nonprofit-psychic-paid-to-speak-with-dead-mormon-leaders |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) |language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, Utah media outlets KSL TV and the ''Salt Lake Tribune'' sued for access to Reyes' official calendar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Rivera |first=Daniella |date=2023-11-15 |title=How does the AG spend his time? Utah's top cop wants to keep his calendar secret |url=https://ksltv.com/601699/how-does-the-ag-spend-his-time-utahs-top-cop-wants-to-keep-his-calendar-secret/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=KSLTV.com |language=en-us}} </ref> The Utah State Records Committee ruled the calendar must be released,<ref name=":0" /> but Reyes argued that release of private work and personal information would present a security risk. <ref>{{Cite web |title=The public has no right to see Sean Reyes' calendars, Utah A.G.'s office argues |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/12/19/sean-reyes-calendars-should-not-be/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> The lawsuit was fully resolved in November 2024, when the office released 9,165 pages of calendar invitations sent to or from Reyes’ official Microsoft Outlook account, covering January 2019 through December 2023. The records include meetings of various official and semi-official events.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://ksltv.com/ksl-investigates/whats-in-the-ags-calendar-utahns-will-finally-get-to-see-after-lawsuit-against-ksl-ends-in-settlement/703325/ | title = What’s in the AG’s calendar? Utahns will finally get to see after lawsuit against KSL ends in settlement | last1 = Knox | first1 = Annie | last2 = Rivera | first2 = Daniella | date = 2024-11-06 | website = KSL.com | access-date = 2026-02-05 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2024/11/14/utah-ag-sean-reyes-sued-keep-his/ | title = Utah A.G. Sean Reyes fought to keep his calendar private. Here’s what it shows. | date = 2024-11-14 | website = The Salt Lake Tribune | access-date = 2026-02-05 }}</ref>
== See also == *[[Asian Americans in politics]] *[[Hispanic Americans in politics]] *[[Politics of Utah]]
== Electoral history == {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Utah Attorney General Republican Primary Election, 2012 |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Republican |'''John Swallow''' |156,644 |67.95 |- |Republican |Sean Reyes |73,868 |32.05 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Utah Attorney General Election, 2014 |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Republican |'''Sean Reyes (inc.)''' |355,275 |63.06 |- |Democratic |Charles Stormont |151,967 |26.97 |- |Libertarian |Andrew McCullough |22,333 |3.96 |- |Constitution |Gregory Hansen |18,722 |3.32 |- |Independent American |Leslie Curtis |15,108 |2.68 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Utah Attorney General Election, 2016 |- |'''Party''' |'''Candidate''' |'''Votes''' |'''%''' |- |Republican |'''Sean D. Reyes (inc.)''' |719,043 |65.41 |- |Democratic |John V. Harper |275,568 |25.07 |- |Libertarian |W. Andrew McCullough |73,973 |6.73 |- |Independent American |Michael W. Isbell |30,687 |2.79 |}
== See also == * [[List of minority attorneys general in the United States]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov Utah Attorney General's Office website] *[http://www.seanreyes.com/ Campaign website] *{{C-SPAN|97023}}
{{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[[John Swallow]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Utah Attorney General|Attorney General of Utah]]|years=2013–2025}} {{s-aft|after=[[Derek Brown (politician)|Derek Brown]]}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reyes, Sean}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:21st-century American lawyers]] [[Category:21st-century Utah politicians]] [[Category:American jurists of Filipino descent]] [[Category:American jurists of Japanese descent]] [[Category:American people of Native Hawaiian descent]] [[Category:American people of Spanish descent]] [[Category:American politicians of Filipino descent]] [[Category:American politicians of Japanese descent]] [[Category:Asian-American people in Utah politics]] [[Category:Asian conservatism in the United States]] [[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American lawyers]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians]] [[Category:Latter Day Saints from California]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:UC Berkeley School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Utah attorneys general]] [[Category:Utah lawyers]] [[Category:Utah Republicans]] [[Category:Utah state court judges]]