Hughes allegations discussed in summer

Ethics complaints against Rep. Greg Hughes were discussed by legislators as early as this past summer.

Rep. Kevin Garn, R-Layton, said he told the House Ethics Committee during closed-door testimony that Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, told him this summer that there could be a complaint filed against Hughes. Garn said Allen did not say what the allegations were but assured him she would not support making them public close to the election.

Allen participated in a Sept. 30 meeting with House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, where the allegations were discussed, reportedly to pressure Curtis into backing ethics reform. Allen, who is expected to be a witness, did not sign the complaint against Hughes.

"Of course, we see what's happening now," Garn said after his testimony. "This is a big media event."

Hughes is accused of offering former GOP Rep. Susan Lawrence $50,000 in campaign contributions in her unsuccessful 2006 re-election bid if she would change her school voucher vote.

He has filed his own ethics complaint against his chief accuser, Rep. Phil Riesen, D-Salt Lake, saying Riesen improperly leaked details of that and other allegations to the news media.

The committee also heard testimony on Friday from Lawrence, Hughes, GOP political consultant Jeff Hartley; Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield; and a Democrat, lobbyist and former lawmaker Blaze Wharton. They will meet again Monday.

Almost all of the committee hearings are closed, and members have been sworn to secrecy. The only portion that was open to the public and press on Friday were a series of votes on procedural matters. Those included votes against considering all of the charges against Hughes separately, as well as a request to release a daily record of testimony, both of which were motions made by Hughes and his attorney.

Both of those motions were attempts by Hughes to clear his name before the Nov. 4 election.

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