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Sean D. Reyes
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Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak Nominated to Serve on Federal Trade Commission

Today, the White House announced Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak as a nominee for Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes stated, “Melissa Holyoak is a remarkable public servant. Her intellect and devotion to protecting the liberties of our citizens have been instrumental to our work here in Utah. Her strong leadership ability and experience at the highest levels of legal advocacy make her an ideal choice for this crucial role. Melissa’s respect for the Constitution, good government, and love for the people have been the foundation of her service here, and I am confident she will bring these principles to her work at the FTC. I am proud to support the president’s nomination.” 

Melissa Holyoak has served in the Utah AG’s Office with distinction since September 2020. Her efforts as one of Utah’s highest-ranking attorneys have demonstrated a deep commitment to constitutionally limited government, civil liberties, economic freedom, fairness, and the rule of law. Holyoak will play a pivotal role as an FTC Commissioner in protecting consumers and promoting competition. 

AG Reyes added, “While we are sad to see her go, we know she will serve our country well, and we couldn’t be more proud.  On behalf of the State of Utah, I wish Melissa every success in this new chapter of her distinguished career. I look forward to witnessing the outstanding contributions she is certain to make at the Federal Trade Commission.” 

Melissa Holyoak graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2003 as an Order of the Coif and Law Review member. She has argued in the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and D.C. Circuits. Currently, she lives in Utah with her husband and four children. 

The FTC protects consumers and enforces antitrust laws to ensure fair competition. Its mission is to stop anticompetitive, deceptive, or unfair business practices. The FTC has five commissioners, up to three belonging to the same political party. Nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, commissioners typically serve seven-year terms.

Official Announcement from the White House

FTC Website

Reuters coverage

In Response to the Lawsuit Filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office

July 23, 2019

In response to the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office today, titled the “U.S. vs. The Custodian of Record for the state of Utah”, the Attorney General’s Office responds as follows: 

“This case is about conduct that took place before AG Reyes or his current leadership team were in office.” 

“It involves allegations related to numerous state agencies. As part of its constitutional duties, the Utah AGO is representing those agencies in this matter.” 

“The Utah AGO has cooperated with the OIG investigation to the maximum extent allowable under legal and ethical rules and has been following strict orders of this court not to disclose anything publicly.” 

“In fact, the federal court overseeing this matter issued an order/gave explicit instructions that our office could not discuss in public/with the media the substantive issues in this case.”

“However, we do not believe it is a violation of the court’s order to reiterate/clarify that: (1) this administration had nothing to do with the alleged conduct, (2) the state agencies involved in this matter are represented by the Utah AGO and these agencies will provide defenses of their conduct at the appropriate time when instructed by the court, (3) the AGO has fully cooperated with OIG and handled this case with professionalism and excellence on behalf of the State of Utah.”

Communications Director Saves Tracy Aviary Raven

July 16, 2019

About a month ago, a large black bird showed up outside the Capitol Hill executive offices of Utah’s Attorney General. It was strange to see this large bird—about the size of a cat—just perched on the window and apparently not afraid of our ogling and tapping on the window. And there were mixed reactions from all of us the other side of the glass. 

“Look how big (he) is!” (People always assume a stray animal is a male).

“What’s he doing here?” 

“Why doesn’t he fly away?”

“Is this good luck or bad luck?”

Some in the office even started calling the bird “Edgar” as in Edgar Allan Poe who wrote the poem “The Raven” in 1845, a work often noted for documenting a distraught lover’s descent into madness.

It turns out that OUR raven wasn’t ominous or mysterious. In fact, SHE is a female, friendly trained bird named Cash that was missing from the Tracy Aviary.  

For a few weeks, Cash managed to work her way into the lives of the people in our office who always wondered why she would just hop from the rail to the window and hang out, looking at the people on the other side of the glass. We snapped pictures, left croutons for her to eat, enjoyed her friendly presence. Cash entranced tourists who also noticed this unusual sight.

Initially, no one knew that Cash was hanging out at the Capitol after being chased away from the Aviary by hawks as her handlers were training her a month ago. I called Tracy Aviary because her appearance at the Capitol met all the criteria in the ‘Missing Raven’ notification online. On Saturday, her handlers came to the Capitol, and she flew to them before they even saw her. We’re all happy and grateful that she is back where she belongs, but we in the AG’s office must confess we are a little sad that our mysterious visitor won’t be perched outside our windows anymore. 

 But we can always visit her at the Aviary!

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Below is a video taken by Chief of Staff Ric Cantrell:

Honoring the American Flag

June 14, 2019

Today marks the 242nd anniversary of the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Since then, the flag has flown over our nation as a powerful symbol of independence, freedom, and hope.

Forged in the fires of war and adversity, the American flag has blazed time and time again through the darkness of hardships in our history as a burning beacon of the indomitable spirit of its people. By honoring the flag, we honor those men and women who courageously fought and perished for this nation in order to protect your rights and freedoms and allow the flag to fly free.

In the words of Henry Ward Beecher, “A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation’s flag, sees not the flag only, but the nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the nation that sets it forth.”

On this Flag Day, we celebrate and honor the American flag’s enduring message of freedom and hope. Together, let us all take a moment to remember those who heroically fought to protect that message and truly make America the land of the free and the home of the brave.

AG Reyes Shares at Larkin Sunset Gardens Memorial Day Service

May 28, 2019

Yesterday, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes had the distinct privilege to share with the families who’ve lost loved ones and honor those who gave their lives in service at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Memorial Day service.

I am honored to address veterans and their families here at Larkin Sunset Gardens for this Memorial Day service. Especially now, as our country has men and women serving in harm’s way, we offer gratitude to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Our nations’ freedoms mean everything to me and my entire family. We are all extremely grateful to those who sacrifice to keep our nation great.

Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes

In Honor of Those We Lost

May 27, 2019

This Memorial Day weekend, as we enjoy the privilege of being a part of this great nation, the Utah Attorney General’s office extends its gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives to protect our country and keep it free.

May we never forget what it took for us to enjoy the liberty and prosperity within which we all live.

However you choose to celebrate, please be careful and travel safe.

AG Reyes Calls for Forgiveness of Disabled Veterans School Loans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2019

UTAH ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE OF STUDENT LOANS FOR PERMANENTLY DISABLED VETERANS
Sean D. Reyes Leads a Nationwide Petition to the Education Secretary

SALT LAKE CITY – As the nation prepares to honor fallen troops on Memorial Day, Attorney General Sean D. Reyes is leading a bipartisan coalition of 51 Attorneys General (50 states and Guam) to urge the Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos to automatically forgive the student loans of veterans who became totally and permanently disabled in connection with their military service.

This effort, led by Attorney General Reyes and New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, calls on DOE to develop a process to automatically discharge the `student loans of veterans determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for such relief. While the automatic discharge process is in development, the letter proposes DOE should halt debt collection efforts targeting disabled veterans and clear their credit reports of any negative reporting related to their student loans. 

“Forgiving their school loans is the least we can do to recognize their service and sacrifice,” Attorney General Reyes said. “These veterans have suffered permanent and total disability as a direct result of their service to our country. They and their families have sacrificed health, quality of life, and often their dreams for the future. Many have lost their ability to work and pay off any school debt.”

“There are many veterans in our state who signed up to serve our country and suffered life-altering injuries as a result,” Major General (ret.) and Chief Civil Deputy Brian L. Tarbet said. “Discharging their student loan debt is simply the right thing to do. I personally know of military families in this situation who could benefit from this kind of assistance but would never ask for it. Let’s make it easier on them to make a better life for themselves after the life-changing sacrifices they made.”

Last year DOE identified more than 42,000 veterans nationwide as eligible for student loan relief due to a service-related total and permanent disability, the attorneys general note in their letter to Secretary DeVos. Fewer than 9,000 of those veterans had applied to have their loans discharged by April 2018, however, and more than 25,000 had student loans in default.

The letter urges an automatic loan discharge process that gives individual veterans an opportunity to opt out for personal reasons “would eliminate unnecessary paperwork burdens and ensure that all eligible disabled veterans can receive a discharge.”

“Currently, far too few disabled vets who qualify for loan forgiveness have applied because they are unaware of or unable to make an application for the benefit,” Reyes said. “And far too many are in loan default, which negatively impacts their lives in very serious ways. Automatic forgiveness guarantees each of them the peace of mind they deserve and demonstrates our gratitude as a nation for what they have endured and continue to endure.”

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NOTES:

  1. Read a copy of the attorneys general letter to Secretary DeVos here: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NAAG-Letter-to-Sec.-DeVos.pdf.
  2. The Utah Attorney General’s office leads Utah@Ease, a public-private partnership that offers legal assistance and representation to veterans and Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard service members. 
  3. The veteran’s groups supporting such proposals have included: Vietnam Veterans for America, Veterans Education Success, The Retired Enlisted Association, High Ground Advocacy, and Ivy League Veterans Council.