The drama wasn't quite over after all. In a statement Saturday morning: "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," so went the letter as Kevin Garn resigned his powerful seat as Majority Leader in the Utah State House of Representatives.
After confessing at the close of the legislative session to a 25 year old incident with a naked 15 year old girl (he was naked, too) in a hot tub and the evasive action taken to stop it from becoming public knowledge, the legislator decided it was time to step down.
In addition to the incident in the hot tub, Mr. Garn later paid Cheryl Maher $150,000 when she threatened to go public with the incident in 2002. Mr. Garn was running for a seat in the United States Congress. She signed a non-disclosure agreement and was paid in 2003.
During the 2010 Session of the legislature, Ms. Maher began sending e-mails to legislators and reporters telling about the incident, and blaming it for a life with pills, alcohol and mental illness.
Ms. Maher currently lives in New Hampshire and says she is at peace after making the incident public.
Representative Garn is the second high ranking republican legislator to resign recently. Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack resigned in December after being arrested for suspected drunk driving.
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Comments
As a Utah republican, I am very, very glad that Garn is finally gone.
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