SALT LAKE CITY — Tim Lawson, most commonly known as the self-described political “fixer” accused in the political scandal surrounding former Utah Attorney Generals Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow died Sunday afternoon.
Tim passed away surrounded by family and friends due to an infection that spread through his body and shut down his organs, his brother Jason Lawson said in a Facebook post. Later in the post, Jason expressed his emotion, promising to watch over Tim’s children as they were his own.
Tim had been charged with tax evasion, witness tampering and obstruction of justice in the Shurtleff and Swallow cases.
A judge had recently given him a trial date for April.
Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings released the following statement regarding Lawson’s death.
“Our condolences to Tim Lawson’s family and all who loved him. Mr. Lawson was not convicted of anything and passed away presumed innocent. He was absolutely willing to assist the State of Utah before a potential grand jury and any other proceedings. Unfortunately, he passed prematurely never having the opportunity to test the State of Utah’s evidence, or at least what the State and defendant were allowed to have due to control exerted by the United States Department of Justice, before a Utah jury. Mr. Lawson died without receiving all of the evidence he was entitled to and in a taint free usable format. He also passed away maintaining the innocence of both himself and former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. A tragic and untimely death, particularly for his family.”
