Utah Legislature: House Majority Leader Kevin Garn resigns amid scandal

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, resigned Saturday following a dramatic admission in the closing moments of the 2010 legislative session of a decades-old, nude hot-tubbing incident with a then-15-year-old girl and a payment to the woman in 2002 of $150,000.

And even as he resigned, Cheryl Maher, the woman involved in the 1985 incident, made new allegations about Garn's indiscretions.

Garn sent an e-mail to House Speaker David Clark early Saturday announcing that he was vacating his Davis County seat.

"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," Garn wrote. "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."

Clark, R-Santa Clara, said Saturday he was not surprised by Garn's decision.

"I had a sense since I became aware of this on Monday that this could be the outcome," Clark said.

Gov. Gary Herbert also acknowledged Garn's announcement in a statement released by his spokeswoman, Angie Welling.

"The situation is unfortunate," Welling said. "And the governor wishes the best for Rep. Garn and his family during what is undoubtedly a very difficult time."

While GOP leaders scramble to find a replacement for Garn, new accusations surfaced Saturday from Cheryl Maher, the woman involved in the 1985 incident, who was an employee at a Layton record store owned by Garn at the time. Maher, who signed a non-disclosure agreement when she accepted the payment from Garn, said she was disappointed in news coverage that she felt made it appear as if she were a "gold digger." She said she wanted the truth to come out, and that truth is that she wasn't the only female employee with whom Garn had contact.

"There were other girls," Maher said. "After me, it was Liz … Liz Moody now. She used to be Liz Smuin."