Utah House Majority Leader Kevin Garn (R) has resigned, following revelations that he took a nude hot tub in 1985 with a 15-year-old employee — and then paid her $150,000 several years later to keep quiet.
As we reported, the woman, Cheryl Maher, had begun contacting reporters about the incident in recent weeks, prompting Garn to call a press conference last Thursday denying that any “physical contact” had been made.
But on Saturday, Garn announced that he will step down in a letter of resignation to House Speaker David Clark (R):
Dear Speaker Clark,Please accept this as my official resignation as Representative from the 16th House District to the Utah State Legislature effective immediately.
After discussing this matter with my family, I have decided that it is in the best interests of them, my colleagues and the people of Utah. As you know, it is a great honor to serve in the State Legislature. In fact, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am proud of what I accomplished. I am proud to have worked with so many wonderful and talented public servants. I wish to thank those who entrusted me with this responsibility.
I thank you for your steady leadership and I sincerely apologize for becoming a distraction to the conclusion of an otherwise remarkable legislative session. I hope that my public service has changed Utah for the better.
Respectfully,
Rep. Kevin Garn
Jillian Rayfield
Jillian Rayfield is a Reporter/Blogger for TPM, and started as a News Intern in May 2009. She graduated from Cornell University in May 2008 with a degree in Film, and worked as a Research Assistant for a market research firm in London in between.
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