Reader comments
Day goes well for Hughes

Looks like none of the lobbyists want to make any enemies out of legislative leaders. I don't blame them - I'd be forced to do the same if I were in their shoes.

Looks like another Democratic last minute smear goes down into the dust. Too bad this type of mud slinging is tolerated at all.

There are lie detectors that work on brain waves rather than Physicological responses such as heart rate, persperation etc. These lie detectors have been tested by the FBI and their assessment was that this type of lie detection is 100% accurate so far as they can tell.

If any Utah law enforcement or agency has such a device, this should be used here, that way the innocent will go free and the finger will point in the correct direction.

I myself have been accused of things where I was innocent, I would prefer the truth come out.

this is only one out of six charges.

If I were a lobbyist, I'd say nice things too. It's like asking the fox to guard the hen house. Does anyone think the lobbyist would have a job if he said Hughes did what he is accused of doing?

That's all they're doing.

Like a lobbyist will rat out a powerful member of the House? I don't think so. They are rats, just like Hughes.

What a bunch of whiners most of you all are. You sit behind the anonimity of your computer and snipe at anybody that doesn't support your bias. I think that for the most part these people are trying to get the to the truth. How can you live your life in such negativity? You elected them so you are to blame for such a rotten group of legislators. Grow up!!!!!

Open hearing would solve a lot of the mistrust. I would think that Mr. Hughes would want open hearing so everyone could see that he was innocent.

How many lobbyist do you trust? Plus, these hearings are done in secret so why can't I comment in secrecy?

I love how the two Republican lawmakers who brought the ethics charges to the table have suddenly become democrats. Short attention span or plain stupidity allows most people to buy into the story I guess. Darn democrats! How dare they complain about the unethical actions of our wonderful one-party system of government when even the majority of the general population is convinced something fishy is amiss on Capitol Hill. Those democrats are so out of touch.

When there is a closed meeting, there is something to hide. Public meetings of the state variety are not sacred, and they do not discuss items of national security. Good and honesty is always transparent.

Utah's GOP dominated legislature ain't transparent.

so few vote for Democrats in this state, and then they go and do another unethical false accusation to show us why. How stupid do you have to be to vote for Phil Riesen?

When was Thomas Karrenberg, Hughes' attorney hired to be the spokesperson for the "closed" hearing?

If Republican leadership doesn't want the hearing open to the public why do they let Mr. Karrenberg spew his propaganda to the news?

So far as open meetings are concerned, in open meetings some people will not comment at all but in a closed meeting they are willing to because the things they say will not be misreported or exaggerated and they get to defend themselves against everyones potshots and stabs and speculation on their honestly, nationality or intelligence. There is a place for closed meetings.
If after all you all are right that there is not way to find the truth, why are they holding the hearings? So many people are not willing to believe anyone no matter who it is unless it agrees with what they want to hear. It just may be that Hughes in not guilty, hum, is that disappointing to some? Lets let the hearing do the job and accept it when it is done.

Hughes DID want the meetings open and was furious that they aren't.

As for Spin Doctor: go read the rules/laws of the hearing before spouting off your nonsense. Stupidity at its finest...

Hughes did ask for a open hearing. As did Reisen. The bottom line here is that 4 dems and 4 rep are the committee. Why does everyone keep talking cover-up.

Do you think the republicans will seriously talk about problems with one of their own. I doubt it. No, they'll go after the whistleblower.

There were no Republicans who signed the ethics inquiry You're mistaken. And the House Rules state that ethic meetings must be held in private. They would have to bring in the entire legislature to vote to change their rules. That isn't going to happen. And, there's nothing wrong with Hughes' attorney speaking to the press. Phil Risen tried Greg Hughes in the court of public opinion during an election cycle. Hughes has a right to defend himself.

The one common thread in all of these "October Surprise" ethics allegations is that the people making them or benefiting from them politically (such as Hughes' opponent in the election) are heavily supported by the teachers union.

Even in the case of Walker versus Ellis. Ellis got thousands of dollars from the teachers union.

The union might like to pretend that it's as innocent as the humble teachers it purports to represent, but they're the largest union in the US and know how to use bare-knuckled tactics to crush anything in their way. This has nothing to do with ethics reforms and everything to do with kicking out legislators who are unfriendly to unions.

I have a feeling you can thank them for introducing a new low in campaign tactics to our state.