"I will not discuss the specifics of the matter at this time, other than to say that the investigation will demonstrate that Bob will be fully exonerated," said attorney Larry Keller. "It's just too early."

While in Iraq for five months, Gross was a senior adviser to Ambassador L. Paul Bremer and to the former Iraqi minister of labor and social affairs.

Gross wore a bulletproof vest and packed a handgun. He rode in armored cars and was protected by an elite team of South African special forces bodyguards.

Gross also served in several prominent positions in Utah, including four months as former Gov. Mike Leavitt's chief of staff in 1997. As the first director of Utah's Department of Workforce Services, Gross in 1996 spearheaded the task of consolidating five state agencies to help people get and keep jobs.

From 1991 to 1996, Gross served as president and chairman of the executive board of directors at First Interstate Bank of Utah, which was bought out and renamed Wells Fargo Bank. Currently he runs Strategic Impact, a government relations and consulting company.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com; lhancock@desnews.com