Majority Leader Rep. Kevin Garn, left, and his wife, Tanya, listen in the House as Speaker Dave Clark remarks on the character of Garn and the value of his career as a representative following Garn's admission to an indiscretion from earlier in life that has recently come to light.
Mike Terry, Deseret News
Statement from Rep. Kevin Garn, R-Layton, delivered from the floor of the Utah House on March 11, 2010.
"Twenty-five years ago, I made a mistake that has now come back to haunt me. I was 28 years old and I foolishly went hot-tubbing with a young woman nearly half my age. Although we did not have any sexual contact, it was still clearly inappropriate — and it was my fault.
"One of the consequences of that decision was the negative impact it had on this young person's life. Years later, when I was running for Congress, she decided to bring this incident to the attention of the media. Shortly thereafter, my wife and I met with her, and at her demand, I paid her $150,000. While this payment felt like extortion, I also felt like I should take her word that the money would help her heal. She agreed to keep this 25-year-old incident confidential. Now that this issue is coming up again, it is apparent to me that this payment was also a mistake.
"Today, she went to the press and reported all of these events. There will be a story. I expect to suffer public humiliation and embarrassment, but I also want you to know that I cannot allow one foolish mistake to continue to shadow my life. At this point, I would rather be open and honest about this than continue to live in fear. Some lessons are hard to learn. This is something I should have done back in 2002. But I was scared. I did not want to be publicly judged by one of my life's worst decisions.
"I told my wife about this incident years ago, as well as my children. I may not deserve their forgiveness, but they have given it. My primary concern at this point is that my wife and the rest of my family know how much I love them. I am sorry for this incident. And I am sorry I ever responded to the financial demands.
"I also wish to publicly apologize to this young lady for this incident. And I apologize to you, my colleagues, for any shame this brings to the Utah state Legislature. I have tried my best to serve my constituents in a way that brings honor to them and makes this great state better than the way I found it. I hope to continue to do that.
"Thank you."
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It appears that this young lady has some problems of her own and that this will bring about her repentance fow her own wrongdoing.
No, Garn, your primary concern is how this will affect your political career, not your family. Cynical? Yes, but you people in the Legislature leave us no choice but to think that way based on the politically motivated and self-serving unethical and More..
While I won't judge him morally, someone else higher than I will do that, I will hope that as citizens we hold our state leaders to high level of good judgement. In this case, Mr. Garn failed multiple times to use good judgement. I am troubled by More..