Reader comments
Hughes denies any wrongdoing

If the tables were turned Mr. Hughes would be arguing that the timing of the investigation is only determined by how the complaint is processed by the system.

If you are culpable, investigations and accusations will come up at the most inconvenient times. The answer is not to decry the timing of the allegations, but to ensure you are above reproach so that allegations may not be made.

Democrats everywhere will do anything they can to get a toehold on anything political, that they perceive to give them an advantage. Look at what they are doing to Sarah Palin in Alaska. Anything to smear a Republican, so they don't have to answer for their own misdoings.

Et tu Brute?
Think about it, those who bully oh so often do not truly know those they call friend. Look around Mr. Huges the people you trust the most are most likely to toss you to the wolves. You do know that you are the designated sacrificial lamb, don't you?

On second thought your friend Curtis is a known good guy, he won't hang you out to dry...

Well said. Poignantly true.

It could well be that Riesen�s conduct, instead of being unethical as Karrenberg suggests over and over and over again, was required by Riesen�s oath of office and principles of transparency and accountability in government. Shouldn't we protect whistleblowers from retaliation (Utah Code, Section 67-21-3)?

Although the committee seems to have sacrificed rights of Utahns to see for themselves what their state government is up to, Riesen has not forfeited his First Amendment rights.

There obviously are many factors involved in filing the complaint, some completely beyond the control of any single person - such as the availability of information and the coordination of multiple schedules of busy people.

In any event, there's no timing requirement for filing a complaint and it�s not unethical to have a political motivation.

I love how you can ignore the fact that there have been ethics violations and call it a political tactic.

People like you who will vote blindly are becoming very old and tired - even in Utah.

all the above comments are political in nature. Hughes is guilty per the democrats, Reisen is per the republicans. Let's let the process work first, shall we.

Anon 3:08,

You can't be serious. Based on your philosophy, why bother even having jury trials? The accused are automatically guilty by your standards.

And Bill Keshlear, thanks for admitting that this is political.

Vote ALL the bums out!

The Utah Constitution provides for a General Counsel to the Utah Legislature. Greg Hughes, Phil Riesen, and Sheryl Allen each have their own private attorney before this committee.

It looks like Sheryl Allen and Susan Lawrence consulted with the Attorney General's office concerning the alleged bribe.

So, where is the Legislative General Counsel in all of this? Do they represent anybody? Everybody? Nobody?

"REPUBLICANS everywhere will do anything they can to get a toehold on anything political, that they perceive to give them an advantage. Look at what they are doing to Barak Obama. Anything to smear a Democrat, so they don't have to answer for their own misdoings."

Both parties are corrupt. The Republicans always attack public education with policies like No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and private school vouchers, and here in Utah by saying the IB Program is anti-American and that we are idiots for questioning their logic when we disobey. The Democrats have their own sore spots into deviancy. I'll let others elaborate on their evils.

However, it is what we got. It was unethical IF Hughes offered compensation for a Voucher vote. That does not matter if he has a R or D by his name, it is still against the rules for one legislator to offer or intimidate another in order to get a vote.

It is not unethical to report this. Curtis should have done it, not Reisen. However it isn't an ethics question, rather a procedural one.

A sucker born every minute. Let's forget the felony charges & misdirect the focus as to the timing. Even the most loyal Hughes supporters have got to see through this sorry defense!

So let's all continue to vote for Republicans so we can see more of this "stuff" in the news the next 2 years.

After all, the "R" is more sacred in Utah than whether a person is ethical, has morals or can do the job he or she is elected to do. Utahns would vote for PeeWee Herman if he had a 'R' next to his name.

To Barnum was right: Unfortunately, the fans of Greg Hughes do not see through his sorry defense. They actually support him and have put signs all over Draper proclaiming their devotion. They are imbeciles with bad judgment and are as nasty as he is. Of course, OJ Simpson also has unethical morons following him, too.

Even if they find that Hughes has done A LOT WRONG, nothing will be done to him because HE'S A REPUBLICAN!
Theres no such thing as ethics in the Utah legislature and I thought everyone knew that!
The issue of "ethics reform" has come up time and again in the state legislature and the Republican majority makes sure that it never even makes it out of committee!
"Ethics" violations in Utah - always - anything ever come of it - NEVER!

Both the Dems and Reps in this state are shamefully corrupt. It is just like southern state politics out here in the west! It is truly disgusting.

I live in Draper, home of Greg Hughes, and while I realize this is a state-level situation, I have to say it really isn't much different than what is going on in our city council. Our city council "people," everyone of them, is only interested in their own wealth and benefit. They vote based on how it will impact them personally, not on what is best for the city or a particular neighborhood.

The exact same thing is going on at the state level. They call it "part of the political game" but in truth it is part of "what is best for me and my family."

Until voters take accountability then we deserve the corruption that exists. If you vote blindly for anyone just because of their political party then you are bound to have corruption. Time and time again we have seen that you can't allow any political party to have unchecked power.

Don't try to compare this to Govenor Palin. She is unqualified and her campaign rhetoric has been distasteful.

And we wonder why Utah's reputation is so bad...how many national businesses have been scared away by the blind sheep mentality?

BAAAAAAAAAAA

I just don't get it. If Hughes has done all these things (and knowing him I suspect he has) then what difference does it make if it came out months ago or now? Guilt is not dependant on time. It is or it isn't. There are those on this ethics committee who have been super buddies with Hughes. So, how come they don't recuse themselves? Again, I just don't get it. Methinks we are being bamboozled.