Utah’s new Attorney General, Derek Brown, is working to restore transparency and trust in his office after years of controversy and scandal. In his first press conference since taking office, Brown emphasized his commitment to openness, promising to implement measures that will make the office more transparent to the public. Among these measures is the release of his weekly calendar and the creation of an ethics subcommittee to address any ethical concerns.
Brown, who has previously served in various political roles, has also pledged to step down from nonprofit organizations and place his family’s assets in a blind trust to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Regarding the office’s ongoing litigation, including lawsuits against social media giants like Meta and TikTok, Brown plans to continue these actions but has set up a conflict wall to ensure impartiality, particularly regarding Meta, a company he had previously lobbied for.
He also voiced strong support for the state’s ongoing lawsuits concerning public lands, including a high-profile case against the federal government over millions of acres of unappropriated land. As Brown settles into office, he plans to review ongoing litigation and determine the best course of action.
In terms of policy priorities, Brown stated his support for focusing on deportations of violent criminals, in line with the state’s stance on immigration, and reaffirmed his commitment to defending the state’s death penalty laws in ongoing court cases.