Associated Press - October 24, 2009 11:26 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Odgen Police Chief Jon Greiner says his only involvement with federal grants during his successful 2006 bid for the Utah state Senate was the 15 minutes it took to sign about a dozen documents.

But federal attorney Peta-Gay Irving Brown argued during a disciplinary hearing Thursday in Salt Lake City that Greiner's signature meant he was ultimately responsible for the grants, in violation of the Hatch Act.

The law prohibits federal civil servants or those who handle federal grants from running for office.

Greiner's lawyer, Jim Bradshaw countered that the federal Office of Special Counsel abused its power.

Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net

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