March 16, 2010: Utah State House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, Republican, announced on Saturday, March 13, 2010, that he was resigning from the Utah Legislature, two days after revelations of a nude hot-tubbing incident with a minor 25 years ago and a $150,000 payment that Garn made to the woman to keep it quiet, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. "After discussing this matter with my family, I have decided that it is in the best interests of them, my colleagues and the people of Utah," Garn said in his letter of resignation, submitted to House Speaker David Clark, Santa Clara Republican, Saturday morning.
Cheryl Maher, who was the teen in the hot tub with Garn in 1985, said she has felt "a lot of peace" since coming forward with her story. Garn, 55, follows in the path of his Senate colleague, former Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, Syracuse Republican, who resigned his Senate seat in January, 2010, after a drunk driving arrest. The incident leading to Garn's downfall came to light in the last days of the 2010 legislative session in which he acknowledged inappropriate behavior with Maher, who was 15 at the time and worked for Garn, who was 30. Garn, of Layton, admitted the two had sat nude in a Salt Lake City hot tub. He insisted there was no sexual contact, but admitted that it was wrong.
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