From Deseret News archives:
Hughes denies any wrongdoing
Ethics hearing sheds some light on timing of complaint
At the same time, the testimony to the House Ethics Committee did little to add heft to the complaints against Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper. He is accused of offering up to $50,000 in campaign contributions to former Rep. Susan Lawrence in spring of 2006 if she would either vote for, or simply be absent for, any legislative vote on school vouchers.
The committee wrapped up the testimony on the first charge, that he offered campaign money to Lawrence for her vote there are six charges total late Monday afternoon. No decision on that charge was announced, although committee members did have lengthy discussions among themselves after Hughes, the final witness, testified.
In his testimony, Hughes said that he never offered "any amount of money" to Lawrence. Instead, the conversation in which she alleged that he made the offer was one of many he had with her about how to finance a very difficult campaign.
Hughes said he told Lawrence that Parents for Choice in Education, a pro-voucher group, asked him to "reach out" to Lawrence, and that the group was offering to help candidates with campaign donations if they supported vouchers. But he made it clear he did not ask her to change her vote, only that reconsidering her position might net her campaign support from the group.
The decision by his accusers to bring this forward less than a month before the election was also attacked, again, by Hughes.
However, the testimony of Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, who did not sign the complaint but was the primary person talking to Lawrence about filing it, seems to hint at a motivation for serious ethics reform, not to oust Hughes. She testified Monday morning and released her opening statement to the press afterward.
She said she first heard of the Hughes offer she characterized it as a bribe from the outset from Lawrence in late 2006, and at that time decided that major changes needed to happen with the state ethics laws. And finding serious ethical violations would probably be the best way to get them changed.
Recent comments
THe Wasatch County Republican Chair was given a position as a state...
Constitution | Oct. 15, 2008 at 6:39 a.m.
To JMT: As for that kind of data (financial & performance), you...
Val | Oct. 14, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.
was the big pusher of the Vouchers with friend Curtis.
This...
Greg | Oct. 14, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.
- Syracuse woman gets 1 year in jail 4:55 p.m.
- NFL locals report 4:54 p.m.
- Oregon Duck sits after rap video 4:49 p.m.
- Patriots vs. Saints 4:43 p.m.
- Man freed from Utah County cave 4:42 p.m.
- Women pro sports continue struggle 4:41 p.m.
- Navy seeks bids for USS Kennedy 4:19 p.m.
- RSL trades Seitz to Philadelp 4:18 p.m.
- Iran urged to compromise on nukes 4:17 p.m.
- Iran seeks to quiet inside critic 4:16 p.m.
- Donny and Kym dance to victory
- Howard made the rivalry a rivalry
- Crews working to free man in cave
- Cougars cruise past Southern
- Loyal to Cougarettes, Crimson Line
- Twitterati to BCS: 'We hate you.'
- Y. focused on 10-win season
- Witness describes '99 killing
- BYU has slim shot at BCS
- Thunder rolls by Jazz
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
256 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
226 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
205 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
129 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
98 - 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
96
As one of Jeff's colleagues on the council, I'll miss him and wish him and...
Crusader: They are all part of the University of Utah family. If you want...
At least Palin is more believable in her odd religious beliefs and not like...
HATCH: " Amid that, Hatch joined the group of GOP senators in their...
Not to nitpick but you have to be kidding about Clements being a better...
Blah blah blah. That's all I hear from liberals becuase I blindly trust...
@doing my part 4:08 p.m.: "But by carefully conserving water with the...
In addition to my previous post - I like the quote "one of its most...
Believing there is nothing wrong with our climate that needs to be corrected...
Don't be too critical of this idea. Two hours is two hours. I recently got a...


