LDS Church says local leaders handled claims against Garn

[helderheid]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14672223?source=most_viewed">LDS Church says local leaders handled claims against Garn

By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:03/14/2010 11:43:04 AM MDT

Allegations made by Cheryl Maher that she had hot-tubbed nude with Kevin Garn when she was 15 were taken seriously by the LDS Church, and were referred to Garn's local ecclesiastical leaders to be dealt with, a church spokesman said.

In August 2008, Maher wrote a seven-page letter to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Thomas Monson describing the hot tub incident, its impact on her life and making other allegations against Garn.

Five days later, she received a letter from Brook Hales, secretary to the First Presidency, that said, "Please be assured this matter will be given further review."

<snip>

And more...

Maher said Garn was her LDS Sunday School teacher when she was in the fourth grade, several years before the hot tub incident.

In 2002, when Maher was talking to reporters, Garn and his wife Tanya met with Maher and her husband in her bishop's office in New Hampshire, and subsequently paid her $150,000 for her consent to conceal the incident.

Maher was recently excommunicated from the church for an extramarital affair.

*emphasis added by me

[helderheid]

1. I just realized some of you may not know what the hell I'm talking about...

House majority leader Kevin Garn resigns
March 13th, 2010 @ 5:40pm
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's House majority leader resigned from the Legislature Saturday, two days after acknowledging he paid a woman $150,000 to keep quiet about a nude hot-tubbing incident that took place a quarter century ago when she was a teenager.

Republican Rep. Kevin Garn's Thursday night confession came in a speech before House colleagues. Garn initially indicated he would like to keep his seat in House leadership, but Saturday he said it would be best if he quit.

He apologized in an e-mail to House Speaker David Clark for becoming a distraction.

"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," he wrote. (Read the entire e-mail http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9999253&pid=1">here).


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9999253 <--- video

[jkshaw]

8. Helderheid, Maher was excommunicated but

not Garn? Good grief.

[helderheid]

9. Yes, she was. She took hush money from a pedophile in her Bishop's office and SHE

was kicked out for an affair. He's still a member in good standing.

[mod mom]

19. Why wasn't the police brought in since he broke the law?

[marshall]

10. Maher was excommunicated for an extramarital afffair unrelated to Garn

No sexual contact was made during the hot tub incident twenty five years ago, so likely the most that would have happened would have been Garn being disfellowshipped.

[helderheid]

13. no sexual contact?

Not according to Maher. If you truly believe that there wasn't any, you may need a reality check.

[marshall]

14. She implies there was some kind of massage

She hasn't said anything specific, jsut that he "likes massages".

He basically admitted to something back in 2002. Maybe she will have some further proof to pull out from under her bed, I don't know.

[helderheid]

15. It wreaks with hypocrisy.

[Taverner]

2. Why the hell does anyone give a rats ass about Salt Lakeans Sexual ...oh, wait...

This is UTAH...Never mind

[GentryDixon]

3. I guess the Church is waiting for the proper time

to "further review". The hypocrisy of this state and it's lock step Church owned Legislature is beyond the pale.

[helderheid]

4. The money was handed over in her BISHOP'S OFFICE!!

[Ian David]

5. This really is one of those gifts that keeps on giving, isn't it?

Dumb question: Was the Congressman's wife naked in the hot tub too at the time?

[chollybocker]

6. ...which mean the LDS literally "owned" Garn's political voice all these years...

...just as they "owned" Maher's (supposed) silence on the "incident."

Audit their asses off.

[helderheid]

7. YES.

[marshall]

11. I wonder what made him 'fess up in the first place

I haven't heard that she has any actual evidence. She doesn't even seem to have come forward twenty five years ago. She asked for a payment in 2002, and at that point it was just her word against his. And if by that point she was excommunicated and he was a member in good standing, who would have believed her? He had no reason other than guilt to admit to what she was alleging--and far better men than him have stifled the pangs of guilt.

[helderheid]

12. She was a member of good standing.

[joeybee12]

16. Apparently there is no separation of church and state in Utah...

...but you already knew that, didn't you.

[marshall]

17. She lives somewhere on the east coast now

Fled to a more friendly climate.

[helderheid]

18. Not in Utah, that is absolutely for certain.