Adam focuses on large-scale investigations that increase transparency and accountability in Utah. His role at the station is to identify and investigate impactful stories that provide essential journalism to the community.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Records Committee has publicly admonished the Utah County Sheriff's Office after learning of the way it mishandled a request for public records from FOX 13 News.
The records request was for police reports related to the criminal investigation of Tim Ballard, the former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad.Ballard's female accusers say he used his position to twist the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to justify sexual conduct, so long as it was part of an undercover technique to save"God's children."The women say the technique was a grooming technique, not an undercover technique.
"I don't know what more I could have done. I gave them dates. I gave them names," said FOX 13 News investigative reporter Adam Herbets."I gave them the road map, exactly on how to find these records."FOX 13 News appealed to the Utah State Records Committee, and a hearing was scheduled for April 2024.
"I don't want to assign blame or intent to Utah County," Herbets said."I am worried about the precedent that it might set for other governmental entities. It think it’s a pretty underhanded way to try and kill a news story... I would like to make sure that other governmental entities don’t try and use the same tactic in the future."
"Can you explain why, in his initial request, he was told there were not any records and now there are records?" asked committee member Ed Biehler. “It’s almost as if they’re obstructing it," added committee member Nova Dubovik. “The whole request was handled poorly.”
Celeste Borys Kira Lynch Operation Underground Railroad State Records Committee Transparency
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