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SALT LAKE CITY -- The son of former Rep. Kevin Garn is defending his father's statement that suggested unpaid blackmail is behind his admission to being naked in a hot tub with a 15-year-old girl.
Jake Garn says he got a Facebook message from Cheryl Maher in 2008 asking for his help in getting money from his father, Kevin, so things wouldn't "get ugly."
The message said: "Nothing will stop me from getting exactly what this matter needs, and that is justice and compensation."
Jake Garn did not want to be interviewed, but he sent an e-mailed statement saying he considers Maher's requests to be blackmail. [CLICK HERE to read Jake Garn's e-mail to KSL Newsradio]
Since then, Jake Garn says Maher did send another e-mail saying she had moved on, but he says she obviously has changed her mind.
Through it all, Jake Garn says the family still has warm feelings for Maher, and they don't want people to believe the Garn family thinks she is not the victim in this scenario. Still, Jake Garn says the media spotlight isn't helping.
"It is not my intent to minimize any mistakes made 25 years ago or to vilify [Maher], but I don't believe the media spotlight is helping her," he said in a statement. "This has been dealt with privately on every possible level years and years ago, and the question remains as to why it is resurfacing now. I believe the answer lies within her communication to me in 2008, which was my only intent in sharing it. I wish Cheryl only the best, and I know my family feels the same way."
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
