Longtime lobbyist Rob Jolley, whose name also turned up on the expanded witness list for Hughes, said he believes the ethics investigation is nothing more than an attempt by Democrats to defeat Hughes' re-election bid.

"I believe this is all political," said Jolley, who helped run Democrat Ted Wilson's failed 1988 campaign for governor. "I believe they are willing to destroy people for political gain and that is more unethical to me than anything you've seen up there since I've been lobbying."

Other new witnesses in the Hughes case include:

• Lobbyists like Blaze Wharton, Lee Peacock, Chris Kyler, Des Barker, Nancy Sechrest, Lincoln Shurtz and Mont Evans.

• Some GOP legislative leaders: House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy; Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo; Senate Assistant Majority Whip Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse; House Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara.

• Other legislators: Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper; Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville; Rep. Sheryl Allan, R-Bountiful; Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton; and Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George.

• Democratic Party executive director Todd Taylor is called in the Riesen case, and so is media attorney Randy Dryer and two University of Utah College of Law professors.

The initial list, released yesterday, included House members, lobbyists or others who deal with the Legislature.

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