Reader comments
My view: 'I know I did nothing wrong,' Mascaro says of allegations

Yeah Right? | 1:11 a.m. July 20, 2008

The idea that he had no idea the apology letter had been sent is funny. The other fact is he told the trib that the girl came onto him. So what is it? Did you find out that excuse did not sit well with people? The truth needs to come out on this issue, and Mascaro should do the right thing and ask for an ethics probe on himself.

Sounds like ... | 1:14 a.m. July 20, 2008

The only thing Mascaro did wrong was go against the Republican big wigs.

It reminds of the character Freddo in "The Godfather" when Michael Corleone says to him, "Never take sides against the family."

You asked for it | 1:16 a.m. July 20, 2008

I wonder if Mascaro will ask for an ethics investigation into this allegation? If not, I would have a hard time sending one of my children up to the capitol to intern for legislators.

Comments continue below

Re: Sounds like | 1:17 a.m. July 20, 2008

I can't believe you would just brush off how serious an allegation this is!!!! I don't care who he made mad...if this is true then it needs to be dealt with.
I bet the Republican big wigs didn't tell Mascaro to act the way he did.

Fight the powerful | 1:27 a.m. July 20, 2008

The GOP House leadership probably manufactures "scandals" like this to keep in stock until such time as they're needed to undermine "dissident" legislators.

The so-called "victim" in this case hasn't pressed the matter further.

The rest of us should leave it alone until she does.

Get Help for Addiction | 7:52 a.m. July 20, 2008

The first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem. If this girl was in desperate need, as you have described, you would have sought out professional help for her immediately. But you didn't. Based on your story, it's obvious you have a problem. You are in denial. Get help.

Anonymous | 7:55 a.m. July 20, 2008

Which is it Mr. Mascaro -- "I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMEN" or "IAM NOT A CROOK"? Take your pick folks. Mascaro is a "D" regardless of the ticket he runs on, and the "R's" view him as a "cancer". It is not at all unusual that the victim would not want to come forward. Imagine how her self-esteem would be damaged if the public knew who she was and what Mascaro claims she did to him?

Addiction? | 8:34 a.m. July 20, 2008

The big addiction plaguing our country is making silly anonymous comments on miscellaneous websites. What is Rep. Mascaro supposed to be addicted to and what possible basis do you have for alleging an addiction?

leadership? | 9:20 a.m. July 20, 2008

Curtis should be investigated for holding on to this information until just the right moment to retaliate against Mascaro. If Curtis suspected an intern was being harmed why didn't he do something to protect her sooner? Was GOP leadership hiding the fact that one of their party members was behaving inappropriately with an intern?

Mike Richards | 9:20 a.m. July 20, 2008

Unless there are hidden cameras and microphones that recorded what happened, this will just be another "she said/he said" incident.

Since, apparently, no one else witnessed the incident, it will be impossible to prove one way or the other.

Unfortunately, the sad lesson learned is that it's not safe to help or to be helped.

Re: Fight the power | 9:45 a.m. July 20, 2008

Why would a young woman do this when she has nothing to gain? You should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking this way. I dont think "leadership" has the ability to make mascaro sexually harass woman.

Mel's Wife | 11:14 a.m. July 20, 2008

I think your pants are on fire, Mr. Mascaro.

The only way to clear your name is for you to get two of your legislative colleagues and call for an ethics investigation into yourself. If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't worry.

Do the right thing. | 12:41 p.m. July 20, 2008

Mascaro thought ethics committees were good things and yet he is too afraid to call one on himself. He should practice what he preaches and start the proceedings for an ethics probe.

The truth | 12:50 p.m. July 20, 2008

The people of this state deserve to know what went on with Mascaro and this intern. This is a serious enough allegation that we can not simply sweep it under the carpet. I'm not sure if an ethics probe is the correct format to move forward, but I do believe the Attorney General has an obligation to look further into this matter.

Johnson's Army | 12:54 p.m. July 20, 2008

Is it true that Rep. Sheryl Allen, who this intern worked for, knew about it and told her not to say anything and let it go? There should be an ethics probe into her and Mascaro both. Sexual harassment of a young girl is not a trivial matter to be easily dismissed as "politics as usual."

Re: Johnson's Army | 1:13 p.m. July 20, 2008

If this is true then it should also be looked into by the Attorney General or an ethics probe. Both of these allegations have serious criminal implications and need to be looked at closely.

Gitmo | 1:24 p.m. July 20, 2008

re Johnson's Army: The question is whether it is true that this intern worked for Rep. Allen... That is very telling. Are not Allen and Mascaro close political allies? Both need to be looked into. I am so sick of these cover-ups.

Oh Please | 1:26 p.m. July 20, 2008

I knew this mess would end up tarring Sheryl Allen. She and Mascaro are now twisting in the wind until Greg Curtis and the rest of his hit men figure out how to put them away for good. Mascaro should call for an immediate ethics investigation into himself AND the conduct of the speaker--for releasing information about another House member without the member's knowledge nor input.

Wow | 1:39 p.m. July 20, 2008

So if I mess up real bad, can I write a polemic diatribe excusing myself of all wrong doing, too?

Wonder what barrel Mascaro has the News over?

Hmmm....

EdM | 2:08 p.m. July 20, 2008

Come on people. Mascaro did nothing wrong and could have just gone and "hidden out" until the election. He came forward here again to state his innocence and try to reclaim what is left of his reputation. This was a hit job pure and simple by the Republican Party Leadership up on Capitol Hill.

Deseret News | 3:11 p.m. July 20, 2008

I really hope the Dnews will look into this matter further. It is clear the trib will not do their work so I hope the dnews will dig into this matter and get to the bottom of it. Please find out what happened here for the citizens of Utah, and this brave young woman.

Black Helicopter | 3:29 p.m. July 20, 2008

So let me see if I've got this right. Both the Des News AND the Trib quoted Mascaro saying that the intern was coming on to him. Mascaro swears he never said it. I guess the rival papers are lying and now colluding to attack the real victim, Rep. Mascaro. Is anyone other than mascaro apologists buying this?

An Innocent Man once said... | 4:37 p.m. July 20, 2008

Ok, Mr. Mascaro, repeat this enough and you may actully begin to beleive it (no one else will):

"I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN"
"I AM NOT A CROOK"
"I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN"
"I AM NOT A CROOK"
"I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN"
"I AM NOT A CROOK"
"I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN"
"I AM NOT A CROOK"

Tell it to a Judge | 4:43 p.m. July 20, 2008

"Really, your Honor, I was just walking along, minding my own business and all of a sudden, Rep. Sherly Allen's intern ambushed me and forced me into my office, late at night, alone, and I didn't know what else to but shut the door and console her. Of course, I then felt so gulity, when it was over, I went home and confessed to my wife."

If this is an Allen/Mascaro coverup, we the people have a right to know the truth, the whole truth, and noting but the truth.

No wonder Allen, Mascaro, and a few D stoges filed the ethics complaint. Typical diversion to distract from their own unethical conspriacy to cover-up this intern's complaint.

re: Tell it to the Judge | 5:24 p.m. July 20, 2008

You forgot about "leadership" sending the girl up to his office and then setting the mood just right for Mascaro to fall into this trap. If "leadership" did not set this up then how could it have happened? OHHH I forgot the girl hit on Mascaro.

all joking aside | 5:42 p.m. July 20, 2008

I find it very scary that a man in a position of leadership in our state could have allegations of this magnitude brought up, and it receives almost no media/criminal scrutiny.

I would have a very hard time sending one of my daughters up there to do an internship when the order of the day seems to sweep this under the rug.

If this allegation is not true we deserve to know and vice versa. We as a people need to know if the capitol is a safe place for our children.

I feel this is a situation were the Attorney General needs to step in, and investigate.

Question for Gitmo? | 6:07 p.m. July 20, 2008

Do you know the answer to point number 3? If there is a pattern of this sort of behavior in Mr. Mascaro's life we need to know about it. It is only fair in defense of the girl in question.

Douglas Jepperson | 6:19 p.m. July 20, 2008

First of all, if you do not leave your name, you should not be able to post. Second, most of you are speculating on what happened without any background of the people involved. I have known Steve Mascaro for over twenty years, I have gone on trips with him, he has been to my house. And I would trust my daughter to work as intern with him.

And the rest of you that doubt the Republican leadership would set up Mascaro, you need to read the newspapers. These people are about self interest and making money, and eliminating anyone in their path

Doug Jepperson

Bob Jones | 6:58 p.m. July 20, 2008

Doug,

Plenty of people had no idea they were hanging out with bad people until those people got busted. The fact that you know him means very little. I suppose because he is a Mormon that he is OK too?

This is a bad argument. You have no idea what he is like when the office door is closed. I'm not saying he is a bad man, but rather he has allegedly made some horrible decisions in his life.

To blame these actions on a group of people is just pathetic. Mr. Mascaro made these decisions on his own, and to blame anyone else including the victim is just plain wrong.

I would like to know if you would still have your daughter intern for Mr. Mascaro if these allegations turn out to be true?

Douglas Jepperson | 7:15 p.m. July 20, 2008

Interesting that you have no problem with all of the anonymous villification of those accused BY MASCARO. It is a double standard used by you and every other MASCARO apologist that demonstrates the need for a public airing of these allegations. If they are false, let it be demonstrated in the light of public disclosure. Problem is, MASCARO, you and the rest of the roaches will scurry for cover when the light hits.

Doug's daughter | 9:51 p.m. July 20, 2008

Rep Allen did the right thing to advise her intern not to "press charges." Clearly if the intern was willing to press the issue, there would be an ethics investigation. She is smart to not come forward. It never did any good for Monica.

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